Burkina's Compaore Working to Heal Guinea-Conakry

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2009-11-03 12:20:00 UTC
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Let's applaud Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore's effort on behalf of the West African political leadership to jump into the boiling waters of Guinea-Conakry to attempt to prevent civil conflict. Back on September 28th, a group of people rallied to protest the prospect of the new military leader, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, standing in elections. Security forces broke up the crowd and killed more than 150 people. Since then there have been revenge killings, retaliations against the revenge killings, and every one is worried what will happen next.

Here's one of those situation in which a well-intentioned African leader may either do some good in the political sphere and get no credit for it, a forgotten peace, or be on-hand to witness a tragedy and be blamed for it. It is a case like many across Africa of locally-driven peace efforts which get little press in the West. Sierra Leone, with help, just completed its last war crimes trials. Niger just forged a deal leading to three of four rebel groups putting down their arms. And Liberia has made great progress since its civil war.

Compare is working, alongside UN envoys, to calm the Guinean junta while encouraging the moderate opposition to quickly form a viable political partner to be included in mediation talks. Let's wish them luck. Follow both peace and humanitarian aid news at ReliewWeb.

[Photo: Guinea refugees in Ivory Coast, Ami Vitale, World Bank.]

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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