No to French interference and intervention in Guinea

west africa | imperialism / war | press release Thursday February 22, 2007 18:42 by Alternative libertaire - AL relations.exterieures at alternativelibertaire dot org

Alternative Libertaire statement

For over a month now, a popular social movement has been shaking Guinea. The workers, supported by their trade-union organizations as well as the country's youth, are standing up to the dictatorial power of the president, Lansana Conté, demanding his departure and the satisfaction of their social claims.

No to French interference and intervention in Guinea

For over a month now, a popular social movement has been shaking Guinea. The workers, supported by their trade-union organizations as well as the country's youth, are standing up to the dictatorial power of the president, Lansana Conté, demanding his departure and the satisfaction of their social claims. After the false negotiations (the agreements signed with the trade-union organizations were not respected), the power is responding with vicious repression (curfews, a state of siege, mass arrests), which has already caused the death of more than 100 people. The French State, which has so far supported the regime, has just dispatched the military vessel Sirocco to the Gulf of Guinea and French troops stationed in Côte d'Ivoire may intervene in Guinea in order to evacuate French nationals and restore order in conformity with French interests and those of the French companies who benefit from the exploitation of the country's resources. France thus confirms its role as neo-colonial gendarme and guarantor of the interests of multinationals, a role it has always intended to play in Africa.

Alternative Libertaire supports the social and democratic demands of the people of Guinea and demands an end to the repression of the social and labour movement.

We also demand the withdrawal of all French troops from the African continent.

Alternative Libertaire
22nd February 2007

Translation by FdCA-International Relations