The political director of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says the regional block is negotiating with Guinea’s military junta to establish a transitional government.
Abdelfatau Musah contends that ECOWAS does not want the predicament of the ailing junta leader to delay Guinea’s transition to democratic rule.
“Our position has been to accompany the people of Guinea, including the CNDD (National Council for Democracy and Development) itself, as it moves rapidly to the restoration of a constitutional rule in the country,” he said.
Guinea’s interim leader, Sekouba Konate pledged a return to constitutional rule following his trip to Morocco where he visited junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.
Captain Camara is still receiving medical treatment in Morocco, where he was flown soon after being shot by the former head of the presidential bodyguard on December 3.
Musah said the junta should not hinder Guinea’s return to democracy.
“We do not want his predicament, his situation now to delay the transition to constitutional rule because there is CNDD and there is somebody who is acting for him. So all we have been fighting for all along is exactly what the U.S. and the European Union have asked Sekouba to do, that is, move rapidly towards the establishment of the transitional authority which will then work towards the restoration of constitutional rule in Guinea,” Musah said.
The regional bloc imposed an arms embargo against Guinea and accused the junta of "mass human rights violations" after soldiers shot dead at least 150 unarmed opposition protesters. Musah says ECOWAS wants democracy in Guinea.
“The (ECOWAS) president (Mohammed Ibn Chambas) is putting forward a new proposal for the establishment of a transitional authority,” Musah said.