Published on : 24/09/2022 – 02:10
The ECOWAS heads of state finally decided to apply a battery of sanctions against Guinea, including an asset freeze and a travel ban for those responsible for the transition. The reactions were quick to Conakry.
The institution gave the junta a month to abandon their plans to rule for another three years. Otherwise, ECOWAS will adopt ” harsher penalties “. This worries the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, the FNDC, as explained by Sekou Koundouno, its strategy and planning manager.
« ECOWAS since September 2021 has been very tolerant. This is why everything that happens today in the country is only the responsibility and the fault of the junta. And its sanctions which come at a given time when there is a flagrant lack of dialogue between the various actors, we can only encourage the junta to engage in discussions with the sub-regional institution, but also with all the living forces in a frank, sincere framework, under the supervision of the international community, in order to avoid future sanctions against Guinea.
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The opposition movement also believes “ that before this date, if there is a political will displayed and there is sincerity on the part of all the actors, we can find ways and means to our problems ». But time is running out, insists Sekou Koundouno. « The junta should not wait until the dawn of the fateful date of October 22 to engage in discussions, something that could be fatal for our fellow citizens who live in systematic poverty. »
And for his part, the spokesperson for the Guinean transitional government Ousmane Gaoual Diallo deplores the fact that ECOWAS has favored sanctions over an approach to support Guinea. ” The Guinean transition should not be discussed simply on its duration, but on its content “, explained to RFI the minister. According to him, it is essential to take the time to solve the problem of the Guinean electoral register before going to the elections.