Moussa Dadis Camara
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (December 2008) |
Moussa Dadis Camara | |
|---|---|
| President of the National Council for Democracy and Development of Guinea | |
| Assumed office 23 December 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Ahmed Tidiane Souaré |
| Preceded by | Lansana Conté |
Captain Moussa Dadis Camara is a officer of the Guinean army, who is currently serving as the President of the Republic of Guinea's National Council for Democracy and Development (Conseil National de la Démocratie et du Developement, CNDD), which seized power on 23 December 2008 following the death of long-time President Lansana Conté. As head of the CNDD, which Camara described as a transitional body that will oversee the country's return to democracy, Camara is the head of state of Guinea.
Previous army role
Prior to Conté's death, Camara was the officer in charge of the military's fuel supplies unit.[1]
December 2008 army intervention
In the early hours of December 23, 2008, Aboubacar Somparé, the President of the National Assembly, announced on television that Conté had died due to illness on December 22.[2] According to the constitution, the President of the National Assembly was to assume the Presidency of the Republic in the event of a vacancy, and a new presidential election was to be held within 60 days.[2]
Six hours after Somparé announced Conté's death, a statement was read on television announcing a military coup d'etat.[3] This statement, read by Captain Camara[4] on behalf of the CNDD,[5] said that "the government and the institutions of the Republic have been dissolved". The statement also announced the suspension of the constitution "as well as political and union activity".[4] According to Camara, the coup was necessary due to Guinea's "deep despair" amidst rampant poverty and corruption, and he said that the existing institutions were "incapable of resolving the crises which have been confronting the country." Furthermore, Camara said that someone from the military would become President, while a civilian would be appointed as Prime Minister at the head of a new government that would be ethnically balanced.[6] The National Council for Democracy and Development would, according to Camara, include 26 officers as well as six civilians.[7]
A statement was read over the radio on 24 December announcing that Captain Camara was the President of the CNDD.[8] Later in the day, Camara and thousands of soldiers loyal to him paraded through the city, surrounded by large numbers of civilian supporters. According to Camara, he "came to see if the terrain is favorable to us", declaring that the large crowds indicated that the people were indeed supportive of the coup. Also on 24 December, Camara said in a radio broadcast that the CNDD did not want to stay in power indefinitely and that it intended to lead the country for two years, promising "credible and transparent presidential elections by the end of December 2010". This contradicted an earlier statement promising an election within the constitutionally mandated period of 60 days.[9]
Speaking on the radio on 25 December, Camara said that he did not plan to run for President at the end of the two year transitional period. He also declared that the CNDD was not susceptible to bribes. According to Camara, people had "start[ed] to show up with bags of money to try to corrupt us. They've tried to give money to our wives and cars to our children." He warned that he would "personally go after anyone that tries to corrupt us".[10]
References
- ^ "Coup leaders tighten grip in Guinea", AFP, 24 December 2008.
- ^ a b "Guinea's long-time military leader Conte dies", AFP, 23 December 2008.
- ^ "Military-led group announces coup in Guinea", Associated Press, 23 December 2008.
- ^ a b "Death of Guinea dictator prompts 'coup'", AFP (Sydney Morning Herald), 23 December 2008.
- ^ "Military-led group announces coup in Guinea", Associated Press, 23 December 2008.
- ^ "Military takes control in Guinea". BBC News. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
- ^ "Coup attempt in Guinea after president dies", AFP, 23 December 2008.
- ^ "Army captain named head of Guinea junta", AFP, 24 December 2008.
- ^ "Guinea coup leader parades through capital", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 25 December 2008.
- ^ "Coup leader consolidates position in Guinea", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 25 December 2008.
See also
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* acting | ||
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