By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

BRUSSELS, Belgium-Today, the European Union (EU) imposed a sanction on Guinea. The sanctions include an arms embargo, and a visa-ban restricting travel into Europe by members of the Guinean military junta.  These restrictive measures come in response to a massacre of Guinean demonstrators that took place on September 28.

Roughly 160 people were killed, and another few hundred were either wounded or raped resulting from a military response to a September 28 demonstration. Witnesses said, “Soldiers opened fire on demonstrators, stabbed people with bayonets, and gang raped women and little girls.” The demonstrators gathered because they were angered by news that Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara planned to stand for President next year.

Camara was just an unknown captain prior to the military coup that took place last year.  At that time the country was going through difficult times after the death of their long time leader Lasana Conte.  Camara promised genuine democracy along with a safe transition period, and most importantly that he would not only conduct presidential elections but he would not stand in them.

Camara gained popularity early as a result of his unorthodox style of rule which included, forcing national guard soldiers to apologize publicly for roughing up a general, and cracking down on drug trafficking. However, over the course of the past year it has been clear that he does not plan on honoring his promise of a genuine democracy. It is rumored that he plans on doing whatever he can to hold on to his power. News of his plans leaked to the public, which resulted in the demonstration.

The EU is not the only group that has sanctioned Guinea. The West African regional group ECOWAS had already imposed an arms embargo on Guinea who is the largest exporter of raw materials used to make aluminum.

One Guinean official has said that the EU’s decision to sanction Guinea may have been counter-productive at a time where the military junta is seeking to end the crisis. He further said, “ at a time when the two parties are moving slowly but surely towards a resolution of this crisis through AU-backed mediation, we think the EU should have aided us in this direction.” He also said, “much as the imposition of these sanctions by the EU is understandable, this is not however the solution to the crisis in Guinea.”

For more information please see:

All Africa – Europe Imposes Sanctions on Junta – 27 October 2009

AP – EU Imposes Sanctions on Guinea’s Leaders – 27 October 2009

BBC – Guineas Erratic Military Ruler – 27 October 2009

BBC – EU Imposes Arms Embargo On Guinea – 27 October 2009

Reuters – EU Agrees Sanctions On Guinea Over Crackdown – 27 October 2009