Published on : 02/08/2022 – 06:16
Many voices are raised after the repression of the latest demonstrations in Guinea. Civil society organizations and political parties expressed their disapproval. But they suspend any march for two weeks, to give West African mediation a chance. What are these organizations asking for? What state of mind are they in? Interview with Étienne Soropogui, one of the leaders of the “Forces vives de la nation”.
RFI: The Living Forces of the Nation are calling for the opening of a constructive dialogue with the junta, the National Rally Committee for Development (CNRD). What are the points you wish to discuss with Colonel Doumbouya and his entourage? ?
Etienne Soropogui : It is important that a framework for discussion be put in place and that we can examine a number of issues to enable a rapid return to constitutional order. This is particularly the question of the deadline for the transition, that this deadline can be examined in a concerted manner by all the political and social forces of Guinea, naturally with the military junta in power. As soon as everyone agrees to say that the transition is also intended to return to constitutional order, it is important that a compromise can be found on the nature of the bodies which should enable this return, in particular the electoral bodies.
Because you at the moment have the feeling that this framework for dialogue does not exist with the junta?
What has been put in place does not seem sincere enough. We have the impression that the junta is trying to play for time to stay in power as long as possible. She makes no effort to open up so that together, hand in hand, we can make the decisions we need to get out of this transition quickly.
You had been part opponents detained under Alpha Condé. Seeing Foniké Mengué returned to detention, together with the Secretary General of the Union of Republican Forces Saikou Yaya Barry, do you have the impression that the new Guinean leaders are reproducing the errors of the regime that they reversed ?
Indeed, I was one of those who were released the day after September 5 (date of the coup that caused the fall of Alpha Condé, editor’s note) from Coronthie prison. But unfortunately, we have the impression that we are facing a remake of everything that was done under President Alpha Condé, who justified the illegal seizure of power. Today most of the freedoms are compressed, today the leaders of the civil society, the political leaders have difficulties to leave the national territory because the passports are confiscated, the soldiers returned to the level of the main arteries of Conakry . I who speak to you now, I have no guarantee that tomorrow morning, a dozen pick-ups will not arrive at my house, in front of my children, to lug me around in a place that I do not know.
I believe that today, everything is being done to tighten the screws of repression, that a certain number of compatriots who are in opposition to what is being be done be intimidated and stop struggling. But, of course, people must understand that it is not because we are afraid of dying or because we are afraid of going to prison that we are going to leave the democratic ideal for which we have been fighting for a certain time to be trampled on by soldiers who have just taken power in Guinea.
The demonstrations are suspended until August 15, 2022 to give a chance to the mediation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). What do you expect from this mediation ?
We dare to hope that this period will allow everyone to bring their intentions back to better proportions so that we can get back to the table. [des discussions]. Unfortunately, on the basis of the deadline that has been given, if we do not obtain anything, we will be obliged, as we said in our statement, to relaunch the demonstrations because we only have that to demand the legitimate demands That we have.
Do you know if an approach or a visit by the ECOWAS mediator in Guinea, the Beninese Thomas Boni Yayi, is planned or is in progress?
He wanted, in view of the palpable tension that we currently have in Conakry, to come quickly so that we put things in their proper proportion. But according to the information we have received, the current authorities did not wish to respond to his calls.
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