In exile for several months, the leader of the UFDG [Union des forces démocratiques de Guinée] Cellou Dalein Diallo told the pan-African weekly Jeune Afrique (JA) that France, the former colonial power, is sparing the junta led by General Mamadi Doumbouya.
The opponent says he is not “satisfied with the attitudes of Westerners who are not doing much to respect fundamental freedoms and a diligent return to constitutional order.”
“In general, I am not satisfied with the attitude of Westerners, who are not doing much to respect fundamental freedoms and a diligent return to constitutional order. In Conakry, there have been many human rights violations, around fifty young demonstrators have been killed and the press has been muzzled. The international community remained silent. Nor does it react to the junta’s stated desire to stay in power as long as possible. Why do we want to perpetuate illegitimate power? », asks Mr. Diallo in an interview with JA.
For him, Emmanuel Macron’s France is using “double standards”: “In Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, French ambassadors and soldiers have been sent back. In Guinea, France is sparing the junta, and vice versa.” Adding that in Conakry, there is no anti-French sentiment. Guineans are not hostile to increased cooperation with France, but not to the detriment of democracy and the rule of law. For the moment, Guinean youth are watching with concern France’s relations with an authoritarian, liberticidal and corrupt junta. We must fear that they will become irritated by it.” Inviting them to adopt a principled stance towards the putschists.
“We must condemn all coups d’état, that is to say any seizure of power by force, fraud or modification of the Constitution,” insists Cellou Dalein Diallo, whose party is preparing for its congress which is already whetting appetites.
Asked by the newspaper about his return to Guinea while he remains pursued by the courts in the affair of the national company Air Guinée, Cellou Dalein Diallo wants to interrupt the black series.
“Everyone knows these are fanciful pursuits. This privatization operation took place in 2002 and those who worked on it are covered by the statute of limitations. The latter recognized that I had played no role, but that does not interest the junta because the Crief [la Cour de répression des infractions économiques et financières] was used to pursue me. Faced with this desire to neutralize political actors, I took my time, but be sure that I will return,” he says.
Aren’t you afraid of being arrested? “Exile or prison, that is one of the risks when you decide to do politics in Africa,” replies the politician.
Ousmane CAMARA
