Guinea to award Simandou iron ore project to Chinalco
May 5, 2013
By: SEM Contributor on May 5, 2013.
It seems the government of the West African state of Guinea may be prepared to give a big stake of its iron ore reserves to Chinalco after reports of falling out with Rio Tinto. Senior politicians in the country are with the view that Rio Tinto have been in Simandou for many years and have done nothing but dish out money to expatriates with little or nothing to show for the time spent on the mines. The government has privately expressed dissatisfaction at how Rio Tinto has conducted its operation in the country and are seriously considering other options.
The iron ore project is vital to the Guinean economy and authorities are keen on handing over operations to a reputable company with a proven track record in the mining industry. Chinalco had been a minority shareholder in the project, but have demonstrated immense interest in taking the project to another level, with intent to create jobs and wealth to boost the economy.
The Guinean government has been encouraged by how a smaller company like African Minerals Limited, operating in Sierra Leone, and driven by the Romanian businessman Frank Timis, could build such a huge operation at the Tonkolili mine with only $2 billion investment, including a port and rail network facility in just under 3 years, something that has enhanced the GDP of neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Pressure continues to be piled on Rio Tinto to give a major stake to Chinalco, as Guinea’s president believes the only company capable of building Simandou is Chinalco with the assistance of the Chinese. African Minerals continues to be a major force in the African mining industry and has made head waves in its contribution to the socio-economic development of the communities around its operations.
By Ahmed Kamara
Guinea: State-Sponsored Forces and Alpha Conde Need to Be Given a “Stand Down” Order, Time for Someone to Stand Up (VIDEO)
May 4, 2013
It’s been a very bad three days in Guinea. The security forces, in a violent and deadly fashion. prevented the opposition march last Thursday from proceeding down the Fidel Castro highway. Tear gas, live bullets, and excitable security officers shooting as if the marchers were plastic ducks swimming in the pool at the country fair. Except these targets bleed real blood. Two dead and several wounded seriously.
But, the day after, Friday, state-sponsored forces (security, Donzos, and RPG militia) burrowed deep into opposition neighborhoods, primarily Peul, and unleashed their terror. On Friday, there were at least three more extra-judicial killings – all at close range. The president of the opposition party SARP was gravely injured by a rock. Today, the headquarters of Cellou Dalein Diallo’s UFDG party was attacked by security forces with tear gas and shooting while people were inside meeting. More on this in another post.
To pursue one’s constitutional rights in Guinea, is to stare death in the face. We know why Alpha Conde upholds and fosters his repressive state: with the theft of the 2010 election, this is the only way to keep in check the overwhelming majority of Guineans who did not vote for him. He can only continue this way if the international community continues to support him. For several years, Guineans showed a lot of deference to members of the international community, thinking its support would be helpful. But, the international community became increasingly difficult to read as it talked to average Guineans about democracy yet supported a violent and repressive Conde government. In 2009, reeling from the September 28, massacre and rapes and the worrisome Capt. Dadis Camara and his military junta, the international community wanted, in their next move, to refrain from raising the ire of Guinea’s 40,000 plus, largely Malinke, army. This meant that there was only one path for Guinea and the international community was the scout leader. The next president of Guinea had to be a civilian and a Malinke. France was willing to offer its adopted son of 59 years, Alpha Conde. Also, the new president had to be “agreeable” about the sharing of Guinea’s resources. For a very short time, the international community got some of what it was looking for in Conde. Then, his ethnocentric hate speech and policies to cut Peuls out of every aspect of governance was followed by incarcerations and elimination of Peuls. Forget the violence agreement. If Conde makes peace with Peuls, he loses his base of support – Malinkes. Don’t forget the 2010 election year refrain of the Malinkes, “Anybody but a Peul.” Add to this his nepotism, his skimming off the top of mining deals teed up by his overseers, George Soros and Tony Blair, and the nagging concern about that 2010 election “fraught with problems.” Now the question becomes, “Is Conde more of a problem than he is worth?” And this is where things are now. Guineans are asking the international community to choose sides. When you support a pariah, you become a friend of a pariah. When you support someone with blood on his hands, it drip all over yours, too.
Following are two videos: the first is a speech by UFDG party president and opposition leader, Cellou Dalein Diallo, at the April 25 opposition march, where he addresses the international community about the state of Guinea (in French) and the second video is from this past Thursday’s march showing the kids resisting the security forces with rocks – this is an intifada, a very legitimate intifada.
But, the day after, Friday, state-sponsored forces (security, Donzos, and RPG militia) burrowed deep into opposition neighborhoods, primarily Peul, and unleashed their terror. On Friday, there were at least three more extra-judicial killings – all at close range. The president of the opposition party SARP was gravely injured by a rock. Today, the headquarters of Cellou Dalein Diallo’s UFDG party was attacked by security forces with tear gas and shooting while people were inside meeting. More on this in another post.
To pursue one’s constitutional rights in Guinea, is to stare death in the face. We know why Alpha Conde upholds and fosters his repressive state: with the theft of the 2010 election, this is the only way to keep in check the overwhelming majority of Guineans who did not vote for him. He can only continue this way if the international community continues to support him. For several years, Guineans showed a lot of deference to members of the international community, thinking its support would be helpful. But, the international community became increasingly difficult to read as it talked to average Guineans about democracy yet supported a violent and repressive Conde government. In 2009, reeling from the September 28, massacre and rapes and the worrisome Capt. Dadis Camara and his military junta, the international community wanted, in their next move, to refrain from raising the ire of Guinea’s 40,000 plus, largely Malinke, army. This meant that there was only one path for Guinea and the international community was the scout leader. The next president of Guinea had to be a civilian and a Malinke. France was willing to offer its adopted son of 59 years, Alpha Conde. Also, the new president had to be “agreeable” about the sharing of Guinea’s resources. For a very short time, the international community got some of what it was looking for in Conde. Then, his ethnocentric hate speech and policies to cut Peuls out of every aspect of governance was followed by incarcerations and elimination of Peuls. Forget the violence agreement. If Conde makes peace with Peuls, he loses his base of support – Malinkes. Don’t forget the 2010 election year refrain of the Malinkes, “Anybody but a Peul.” Add to this his nepotism, his skimming off the top of mining deals teed up by his overseers, George Soros and Tony Blair, and the nagging concern about that 2010 election “fraught with problems.” Now the question becomes, “Is Conde more of a problem than he is worth?” And this is where things are now. Guineans are asking the international community to choose sides. When you support a pariah, you become a friend of a pariah. When you support someone with blood on his hands, it drip all over yours, too.
Following are two videos: the first is a speech by UFDG party president and opposition leader, Cellou Dalein Diallo, at the April 25 opposition march, where he addresses the international community about the state of Guinea (in French) and the second video is from this past Thursday’s march showing the kids resisting the security forces with rocks – this is an intifada, a very legitimate intifada.
La « communauté internationale » en Guinée-CONAKRY : des ambiguïtés à expliquer à ceux et à celles qui veulent comprendre.
April 30, 2013
Mamadou Billo SY SAVANEArticle publié par le 27 avril 2013 à 9h2
La « communauté internationale » en Guinée-CONAKRY : des ambiguïtés à expliquer à ceux et à celles qui veulent comprendre.
De tous les pays Noirs Africains, les Guinéens sont les plus prompts à implorer la «communauté» dite internationale à la moindre petite difficulté politique normale intérieure. Ici on invoque BAN KI MOON. Là, on sollicite le représentant de l‘Union Européenne qui se prend pour le Gouverneur Général de la Guinée, parce que son organisation financerait ceci ou cela. Ailleurs, on se soumet obséquieusement aux injonctions injustifiées de l’Ambassadeur des U.S.A. dont on cherche en vain le caractère diplomatique de ses agissements militants pour M. Alpha CONDE. En quelque sorte, la préférence pour un homme pourvoyeur de concessions minières, et le rejet de populations pacifiques délestées de leur propre pays. Singulière diplomatie.
Jamais par le passé, notre PATRIE n’a été si humiliée, si traînée dans la boue, depuis la cooptation de M. Alpha CONDE à sa tête, par des réseaux extérieurs dont les Guinéens de base comprennent désormais qu’ils défendent des intérêts absolument contraires aux leurs.
La diplomatie de menace et d’intimidation des populations guinéennes par l’ambassadeur des U.S.A. à CONAKRY est une source possible de radicalisation de la jeunesse du pays.
Ce nouvel ambassadeur à CONAKRY, d’ailleurs très lié aux affairistes miniers Anglo-américains et Sud-Africains, ne cesse d’intriguer de simples citoyens guinéens. Car ses ingérences grossières dans les petits différends politiques intérieurs, sont très loin de la démarche diplomatique normale, mais très proches des intimidations de type bar bouzard.
Le militantisme RPGISTE outrancier du diplomate des U.S.A. à CONAKRY, ses agissements agressifs déraisonnables contre les adversaires politiques de M. Alpha CONDE, n’annoncent rien de bon pour mes compatriotes, ni maintenant, ni dans le futur proche et lointain.
Il va dans les camps militaires à KINDIA et ailleurs, comme si la Guinée était un simple Comté de l’Alabama, ou de l’Oregon. Il donne des leçons de «démocratie» aux Guinéens qui ne lui demandent rien. Je me suis laissé dire qu’il aurait ordonné à M. Alpha CONDE de fixer la date du 30 Juin pour les législatives. Or, il n’ignore pas que le KIT électoral WAYMARK-SABARI Technologie a déjà créé préventivement un stock de 750. 000 faux électeurs en Haute-Guinée, notamment à KANKAN, SIGUIRI, KOUROUSSA, KEROUANE (les bastions supposés de M. Alpha CONDE), et limité sévèrement les inscriptions au fichier électoral dans les régions réputées favorables à l’opposition (la Moyenne-Guinée, la Basse-Guinée et maintenant une bonne partie de la Guinée Forestière). Peut-être a t-il lui-même, ou ses amis Sud-Africains (Services Secrets de M. Jacob ZUMA qui peuplent le palais Sékoutouréya) contribué à créer ces faux électeurs ? Read more…
Oh No, It’s the 2010 Election All Over Again: UN Sets the Stage to Shove Guineans into a Second Fraudulent Election
April 29, 2013
The international community has spoken. The UN Security Council issued a statement today that will drive Guineans to their second fraudulent election in three years. Having Conde as Guinea’s president is bad enough, but his fraudulent manipulations of the electoral system will give him a “majority” in the legislative election. And, while he came to the presidency without a mandate to govern because he stole the 2010 presidential election, his “win of a majority” in the legislature gives him a cosmetic validity. And, you think the repression by the state is bad now, wait until after June 30.
The UN News article follows.
Security Council welcomes agreement by Guineans to resolve differences peacefully
29 April 2013 – The Security Council today welcomed the joint declaration of non-violence signed last week in Conakry between the main Guinean stakeholders in which they committed themselves to resolve all differences exclusively through peaceful means.In a statement issued to the press, the 15-member Council also welcomed the declaration by President Alpha Condé whereby he expressed his readiness to ensure the transparency and the credibility of the electoral process, and committed himself to accepting the results of the upcoming legislative elections.
In March, protests in the West African nation related to the polls led to several deaths and hundreds of injuries. At that time, both Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN human rights office appealed for calm amid the violence and urged political actors in Guinea to pursue dialogue to create conditions for peaceful elections.
The Council, which was briefed last Thursday on the situation in Guinea by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, expressed its concern over the “volatile situation” in the country.
“The members of the Security Council deplored the violent incidents that occurred during the demonstrations in Conakry on 25 April 2013, which resulted in the death of one person and injured a number of others.”
Council members also expressed their strong support for the facilitation efforts led by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, to resume the national political dialogue between the Government of Guinea and the opposition.
“They called upon all the parties to cooperate closely with him with a view to creating the conditions necessary for a national political dialogue conducive to the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive legislative elections in Guinea.”
GUINEA: Opposition Says “No” to Gov’t. Dialogue Meeting and “Yes” to March on Thursday, May 2
April 29, 2013
OPPOSITION PROTESTER TELLS IT LIKE IT IS DURING MARCH PROTEST OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION IN BRUSELS
Article from guineenews.org , translated via Google into English, editing by Guinea OyeThe Opposition is not joining the Prime Minister for the dialogue meeting: “We will send a letter,” says Lansana Kouyate
posted on April 28, 2013 at 6:22 p.m.
The standoff between the government and the opposition continues to harden. Mistrust and suspicion in the political pond in our country are exacerbated by the publication of a presidential decree, on Saturday, April 13, 2013, calling the electorate to the polls on June 30. Since then, in both statements and speeches, disagreements between the two movements are growing. The international facilitator [Said Djinnit] appointed by the Secretary General of the UN on the eve of the publication of this decree has, for the moment, got a non-violence agreement among parties that has “lived” since the time of his signature. The march of April 25 was more dramatic than the previous (April 18), leaving one dead and several wounded, some by live ammunition, observers reported.
Another initiative of the international facilitator, after his round of visits with stakeholders, is the revival of the political dialogue. The Prime Minister sent a letter to the opposition at the beginning of the weekend requesting a resumption of talks on Monday, April 29 with the Prime Minister. The opposition takes exception to the Government’s refusal to rescind the decree setting the date of elections for June 30 which obstructed dialogue and release of opposition marchers arrested who were exercising their right to protest. The main opposition leaders decided on Sunday to refuse to participate in a dialogue with the government until these preconditions are met. According to the procedure, opposition leaders will dispatch a letter to the Prime Minister. “We will send our spokesperson [Aboubacar Sylla] to respond to the letter from the Prime Minister,” said the president of the SARP, Elhadj Lansana Kouyate, who was reached by phone overnight on Sunday.
Concerning our question about the purpose of the spokesman of the opposition attending the meeting with the Prime Minister — will he represent the opposition or only to file the pposition’s reply letter, Lansana Kouyaté said: “We send our spokesperson to deliver to the Prime Minister our response letter notifying him that we will not participate in dialogue as the conditions obstructing our participation have not been removed. ”
These conditions, according to the opposition, are the decree calling the electorate to the polls on June 30 and the release of opposition activists.
Furthermore, we learn that the opposition will not participate in current electoral actions and will not file any application for candidates in the June 30 election, being certain that it will succeed in preventing the holding of parliamentary elections under current conditions. Another week of uncertainty begins!
The opposition is involved in preparations for the net march which will be on Thursday, May 2, along the Fidel Castro Highway, we learn.
Nouhou Balde
Conakry, Guinea
224.669.13.13.13
Government Denies Responsibility for March Shootings
The Security Minister said today that the government is not responsible for shooting opposition demonstrators because security forces were not carrying guns during the march. Six people were shot with live rounds on April 25, one died, Boubacar Diallo, 16. Note that several march participants said that police in civilian clothes infiltrated the march.
Security Minister Cisse said and later echoed by Governor of Conakry, Sekou “Resco” Camara, the government is bringing in a ballistics expert from the international area to determine the origin of the live rounds. The Guinean government has already exhibited its ability to swindle things of an international nature. UN representative, Said Djinnit found this out when the Guinean government passed off its pick for international dialogue facilitator as someone who was approved all parties . . .not. A shameless government, like Conde’s, does not announce bringing in an international ballistics expert only to have it point to its security services as the culprits.
Actually,Conde has a smorgasbord of state-sponsored forces at his disposal which he has spent a lot of time building up just for moments like opposition demonstrations. The opposition should demand that the investigation into the origin of live rounds be extended beyond the security services into Conde’s increasingly vast “irregular forces.”
Conde increasingly uses mercenaries and ethnic militias (Malinkes) trained in Angola to supplement security forces. During the march, opposition demonstrators reported that RPG Malinke militia members were evident along the perimeter of the march. A few of the injuries to opposition participants included stabbings, a preferred mode of attack by Donzos,or hunters, from the Forest region of Guinea. Before the government forces can be cleared of culpability, they have a large number of mercenaries and militiamen to check out.
UFDG Youth Leader, Bailo Diallo, Arrested
Bailo Diallo was pulled out of a taxi three days ago and taken to a police station in Matam. His condition and circumstances are not apparent. What was he arrested for? In Conde’s Guinea, being with the opposition and being a Peul, is sufficient.
South African Mining Magnate Eyes Simandou Iron Ore Project
After all the focus on BSRG for its shenanigans during the presidency of Lansana Conte to acquire mining rights associated with the Simandou iron ore project, it looks like a South African miner, Patrice Motsepe, owner of South African Rainbow Minerals likes what he sees at Simandou. Motsepe, South Africa’s first black billionaire has been in discussions with Guinean officials and states that, in addition to iron ore, he is interested in building infrastructure to go with it.
One day, we will know more about Conde’s South African connections, especially about Waymark, promises to Jacob Zuma, and the real reasons behind the Simandou drama that might lead to Motsepe’s making a move into Guinea’s world of lucrative mining. For full article: Motsepe eyes Guinea’s iron ore industry
The Security Minister said today that the government is not responsible for shooting opposition demonstrators because security forces were not carrying guns during the march. Six people were shot with live rounds on April 25, one died, Boubacar Diallo, 16. Note that several march participants said that police in civilian clothes infiltrated the march.
Security Minister Cisse said and later echoed by Governor of Conakry, Sekou “Resco” Camara, the government is bringing in a ballistics expert from the international area to determine the origin of the live rounds. The Guinean government has already exhibited its ability to swindle things of an international nature. UN representative, Said Djinnit found this out when the Guinean government passed off its pick for international dialogue facilitator as someone who was approved all parties . . .not. A shameless government, like Conde’s, does not announce bringing in an international ballistics expert only to have it point to its security services as the culprits.
Actually,Conde has a smorgasbord of state-sponsored forces at his disposal which he has spent a lot of time building up just for moments like opposition demonstrations. The opposition should demand that the investigation into the origin of live rounds be extended beyond the security services into Conde’s increasingly vast “irregular forces.”
Conde increasingly uses mercenaries and ethnic militias (Malinkes) trained in Angola to supplement security forces. During the march, opposition demonstrators reported that RPG Malinke militia members were evident along the perimeter of the march. A few of the injuries to opposition participants included stabbings, a preferred mode of attack by Donzos,or hunters, from the Forest region of Guinea. Before the government forces can be cleared of culpability, they have a large number of mercenaries and militiamen to check out.
UFDG Youth Leader, Bailo Diallo, Arrested
Bailo Diallo was pulled out of a taxi three days ago and taken to a police station in Matam. His condition and circumstances are not apparent. What was he arrested for? In Conde’s Guinea, being with the opposition and being a Peul, is sufficient.
South African Mining Magnate Eyes Simandou Iron Ore Project
After all the focus on BSRG for its shenanigans during the presidency of Lansana Conte to acquire mining rights associated with the Simandou iron ore project, it looks like a South African miner, Patrice Motsepe, owner of South African Rainbow Minerals likes what he sees at Simandou. Motsepe, South Africa’s first black billionaire has been in discussions with Guinean officials and states that, in addition to iron ore, he is interested in building infrastructure to go with it.
One day, we will know more about Conde’s South African connections, especially about Waymark, promises to Jacob Zuma, and the real reasons behind the Simandou drama that might lead to Motsepe’s making a move into Guinea’s world of lucrative mining. For full article: Motsepe eyes Guinea’s iron ore industry
In a previous post, Guinea Oye wrote that it is customary for security services, during or after marches, to `pursue opposition of marchers into their neighborhoods by security forces to mete out punishment. It happened today again and resulted in the death of a 16 year-old boy. Below is a short article by guineenews.org, about the boy’s death and the injury of other opposition supporters by live ammunition from security forces. Note that the mother of the dead boy says her family cannot mourn in peace because the security forces have besieged their neighborhood.
From guineenews.org[Translated into English via Google]
April 25, 2013
It is 17h 40 Guineenews’ reporter and leader of the opposition, Cellou Dalein Diallo, had access to the morgue where rests the moment Boubacar Diallo. Aged only 16, a mechanic by trade, Boubacar Diallo is from Djouriyah prefecture Dalaba.
Inconsolable now, his parents explain to the leader of the UFDG Diallo that it is punishment that they have to have a death without being able to mourn in peace, their neighborhood is besieged by forces .. .
At Donka morgue where we were not allowed to take a picture of the deceased Boubacar Diallo, through a doctor we still found a list of some victims.
Souleymane Bah, 16, was shot in the thigh;
Alhassane Diallo, 22, was shot in the hip;
Aliou Diallo Mamadou, 23, was shot in the thigh;
Lamarana Amadou Bah, 25, has received a cross in the upper lip.
`
photo: aminata.com
This follows a scenario the government has used for the last couple of years during opposition marches – RPG supporters initiate an attack on opposition marchers, usually with stones, the security forces blame the disturbance on the opposition and respond by throwing tear gas into the march, resulting in the march being cut in half.
Aminata.com says marchers are reporting that police in plain clothes have infiltrated the march. Now we know why the presence of uniformed police along the route is less than normal. Also:
“Despite the registered seat of the RPG arc-en-ciel clashes that saw a large number of activists have to turn back in a strong human tide expected at the opposition rally at the stage on September 28. The main opponents of the regime of President Alpha Condé in all sternly denounced the will of those in power to hold fraudulent elections, found Aminata.com.
In front of thousands of activists, Aboubacar Sylla, spokesman for the opposition, argues that the government continues to organize “rigged elections, a real sham election.” That’s why he added, everyone must stand up and refuse “this sham election for our country.”
For its part, Boubacar Barry UNR, invited the president to behave like a Mandela as he had promised during his inauguration. Diallo, head of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), spoke about the youth engagement.“Young Bambeto reassured me, everyone is reassured that you do not fight for money, you fight for the establishment of democracy,” said Diallo. According to the former Prime Minister, it is the turn of a table that disputes including the choice of the operator can be solved. According to him, the event this Thursday has mobilized more than one million activists Before inviting Guinean citizens to mobilize, Diallo, predicted that “the next walk will be on the highway” Fidel Castro.”
AMINATA.COM
