Print this article   Email this to a friend

Comment

Alpha Condé, President of the Guinean People's Assembly, RPG, on the way forward for GUINEA

27 March 2008

There are moments in a country’s history when we must collectively question the efficacy of the solutions we have proposed, the means we have deployed and the results we have been getting.  Such a time has now come.  Guinea can no longer continue to operate as it has for too long. Poverty is on the rise, public health is virtually inexistent, unemployment has reached intolerable levels and the gap between rich and poor widens daily.  Meanwhile, public authorities do very little to remedy these problems or else reestablish the regulations that could bring back a necessary balance. 

Today half the population lives below the poverty line, which means that one in two Guinean does not have enough to eat, cannot get cured when he or she is ill, cannot afford children’s school fees and in a nutshell cannot meet his or her basic needs. Matters are worse still in the countryside where up to 86% of the rural population is poor.

Adequate healthcare is a miracle in Guinea, our hospitals and dispensaries lack everything and are ramshackle and dilapidated. How many Guineans do not bother to seek medical care till their very death? Medical care is too costly, sometimes amounting to the whole salary of one person, who often single-handedly supports the entire family. Healthcare only represents 6% of the national budget. This is far below what the population needs. It is therefore essential that adequate measures be put in place to facilitate everyone’s fair access to healthcare and the setting-up of small dispensaries and health units all over Guinea, including in small villages. This challenge is a greater priority than any political competition. For a sick country cannot focus properly on its development.

How do we build a sustainable future from the economic and social breakdown, which seriously threatens peace and stability in our country?  This should be the sole purpose of our political commitment. It is certainly my primary concern.

We too often tend to use politics to fight one another. This can be useful at times, to bring forth the victory of certain projects as this is a natural goal of electoral contests. But as soon as rivalries destroy or impoverish a country, we must seek new ways to engage in the political debate to build ourselves up, raise consciousness, and resolve the problems of our citizen: our children, brothers and sisters of Guinea.

Perfection is not of this world, and I confess that I have myself made mistakes in the past, like most men of action caught in the hardship of political trials. I have faced imprisonment, privation, and suffering; but I never gave up on doing what is good, questioning my actions and maintaining within myself the necessary self-analysis, without which we fall into self-sufficiency and close-mindedness.

We must react differently; entertain new ways of thinking and acting, conceive new fellowships and solidarities and a new convention of objectives based on hard work, ethic, justice, transparency and sharing.

The great challenge awaiting us cannot be reduced to the quest for power alone, but it must allow us to endeavour so that all Guineans have a better quality of life in Guinea. Guinea itself is rich but the overwhelming majority of Guineans are poor. How do we ensure the inversion of this curve so that our countrymen and women can work, take care of their health and experience a decent standard of living like in any other country worthy to be called as such? This is the major challenge, which all should focus on. This is why I invite, every one, regardless of their convictions or political affiliation to join in on this march towards progress and unity for the good of all.  

Our youth is broken, constituting a minority majority on the margin of political and economic life. Nevertheless, 3 out of 4 Guineans are under 30 years of age and close to 45% of the total Guinean population is under 15 years old. We are in our great majority a young population and this majority must be visible at the level of our institutions and of our actions for development.   Beyond merely declaring intentions, a strong political will must emanate from our projects so that our youth become the driving force of the development and modernisation of our people.

Today too many among our youth, and particularly among our recent graduates, find it hard to economically establish themselves in Guinea. After trying and failing to see job opportunities materialize, they have the legitimate feeling that their elders are locking them out of any professional insertion. We must put an end to this injustice and make sure that their desire to take charge and be responsible becomes a reality in the name of justice and of our country’s future. If such a change of course does not occur soon, the revolt of the youth will be drastic.

The popular uprising of early 2007 stressed the urgency of profoundly reforming our country, not only from the political and economic standpoints but also from a social one. These reforms cannot occur without opening a new political page requiring a change of regime. This is a necessary and absolute condition to rapidly set in motion the train of measures that must change the old habits of catering to special interests, political business dealings, and a host of other mob-like practices, which have plagued the healthy management of our economy and of our natural resources and granted no benefit to the majority of Guineans. National wealth must be used to enrich Guineans, who must feel its effects in their daily lives when they go to the hospital, use public transports or get paid wages.

We must build a new dialogue environment where all Guineans are invited without any restrictions. We must do it without holding any grudges, without hatred or any spirit of revenge. I believe that regardless of our differences and electoral allegiances, we all love Guinea and we must therefore respect this fact in one another. Nelson Mandela, the great African figure, a role model to us all for his courage, his tolerance and his exceptional humanitarian work succeeded in building a rainbow nation on forgiveness, and on the giving of oneself to the cause of his people. It is this man who has inspired me to follow such an approach and use such words when talking about others and my country. 

Thus, a new space of understanding built around issues of development must constitute the cornerstone of a new platform in which political parties, unions, civil organisations (particularly associations and NGOs), and all religious denominations come together in a concerted effort to promote a real plan of action consensus. Our national resources must be reallocated to increase the standard of living of all our fellow countrymen and not simply enrich the cast of a privileged few. By raising the issues in this way, I am not attempting to ignore the legitimacy of political action nor political parties. Politics, however, should not solely be based on what opposes us; it should also unite us around what is essential to us all: namely Guinea.

This is the noble task to which I invite all those, who like me; believe that the superior interest of Guineans and Guinea must take precedence over any other consideration of ethnicity, party affiliation, regionalism or personal interest. Far from denying these differences, let us turn them into the tools to build a unified, prosperous and strong nation.

 27 March 2008


LINK

Guinean People's Assembly, RPG

Press Release

Socialist International condemns the violent repression of demonstrations in Guinea

23 January 2007

  
 
 

Press coverage

 

SI in the News

 

                  
 

 

       

 
 

Member parties in government

List of SI member parties in government 

Member Party Congresses

Italy, PSI 
Congress
Rome
29-31 March 2019

 

Chad, UNDR
Congress
Mongo
12-14 April 2019

VENezUELA

Resolutions and Decisions of the XXV SI Congress

Report to the XXV SI Congress

 

Finances of the InternationAl

Budget and accounts

Elections

Slovakia
Presidential elections
16 March 2019

 

Ukraine
Presidential elections
31 March 2019

 

Andorra
Andorran General Council

7 April 2019

 

Israel
Israeli Knesset
9 April 2019

 

Finland
Parliamentary elections
14 April 2019

 

Spain
General elections
28 April 2019

Resolutions and Decisions of the XXIV Congress

 


Report of the Secretary General




venezuela

SI welcomes the release of political prisoner Manuel Rosales

02 JANUARY 2017

The release from prison of Manuel Rosales, leader of Un Nuevo Tiempo, UNT, of Venezuela, an SI member party, has been warmly welcomed by the Socialist International. He was unjustly imprisoned following his arrest in October 2015, returning to the country after six years in exile. While celebrating his release, we vigorously protest against the conditions imposed on his freedom, including the need for him to regularly report to authorities, and forbidding him from leaving the country. The International salutes his courage and strength, and expresses its support and solidarity to his family, friends, and comrades...

IRAN

SI condemns terrorist attack against member party KDP-Iran


21 DECEMBER 2016


The Socialist International firmly condemns the terrorist attack against the party headquarters in Arbil of the SI member Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP-Iran, which took place on 20 December. The attack was carried out as party members were leaving a memorial ceremony honouring former party leader Abdulrahman Ghassemlou, who was assassinated in Vienna in 1989. Four party members, a member of the youth organisation and a security guard died in the attack and several others were seriously injured. Our International extends its deepest condolences to the families and comrades of those killed. The SI reiterates its strong solidarity with all members of the KDP-Iran at this difficult time.

POLITICAL PRISONERS

Political Prisoners

turkey

SI calls for respect for democracy in Turkey and the release of detained HDP leaders

4 NOVEMBER 2016

The Socialist International firmly deplores the arrest this morning of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, Co-Chairs of the People’s Democratic Party (Halkların Demokratik Partisi), HDP, an SI member party, and the detention of 11 other HDP parliamentarians, in a further blow to Turkish democracy following earlier crackdowns and restrictions on the freedoms and rights of the citizens of that country. The HDP is the third largest political party in Turkey and won seats in parliament in June 2015 despite the existing 10% threshold, and again in the elections re-called in November 2015. In May this year, the immunity that MPs usually hold from prosecution was removed from HDP members. Party members have subsequently protested against repeated raids of their homes and offices...

 

veneZuela

SI Declaration on Venezuela

21 OCTOBER 2016

The Socialist International deplores the decision adopted yesterday, Thursday 20 October, by the Electoral National Council (CNE) of Venezuela to postpone until a new judicial order the process of collection of 20% of signatures required to activate a recall referendum on the government of Nicolás Maduro scheduled for 26, 27 and 28 of this month. In its public declaration, the CNE bases its decision on compliance with the Constitution and observance of precautionary measures adopted by the criminal courts of Valencia, San Fernando Apure, Aragua and Bolivar, after accepting complaints for alleged electoral crimes against the political forces which are members of the Mesa de Unidad Democrática (MUD), an alliance which includes member parties of the SI, in the process to activate the recall referendum...

 

SYRIA

Socialist International calls for an immediate end to the ongoing bloodbath in Syria and for united efforts by the international community to end the conflict


14 OCTOBER 2016


As the world continues to witness the tragedy taking place in Syria, the Socialist International calls for renewed concerted efforts by the international community to stop the carnage and human suffering which has intensified following the breakdown last month of the brief ceasefire that lasted less than a week. The Syrian people are hostages to a conflict that transcends their country and whose solution today lies primarily outside their borders. According to United Nations figures, some 13.5 million Syrians are today requiring humanitarian assistance…


COLOMBIA

   

Standing with Colombia for peace

 

Colombia

Standing with Colombia for peace


26 SEPTEMBER 2016


The Socialist International greets the historic signing today in Cartagena of the Peace Accord between the government of Colombia and the FARC, successfully concluding a process which began more than four years ago in Havana. Our International is among those accompanying this significant event, maintaining its commitment and support for peace in Colombia today and for the post-conflict period of disarmament and reconciliation.

BElarus

Parliamentary elections bring no true democracy and no real change in Belarus


13 SEPTEMBER 2016


Despite the election of opposition parliamentarians for the first time in twenty years, legislative elections in Belarus have not delivered true democracy to the people of that country. The Socialist International reiterates its firm support and solidarity to all those in Belarus engaged in the fundamental struggle for democracy and human rights. On 11 September 2016, Belarusian citizens went to the polls for parliamentary elections, the results of which are now known. The new parliament contains two opposition MPs, the first elected since 1996, but remains overwhelmingly dominated by those who support President Alexander Lukashenko....

GamBia

SI denounces the sentencing of opposition leader in The Gambia


22 JULY 2016


The Socialist International firmly denounces and condemns the sentencing of Ousainou Darboe, leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) of Gambia, an SI member party, along with 18 other party members and sympathisers, to 3 years imprisonment, having been arbitrarily detained since 16 April 2016 following a peaceful demonstration. The SI utterly deplores this travesty of justice and calls for their immediate release. We equally call on the international community to join forces in denouncing the conduct of the dictatorial regime of Yahya Jammeh and calling for an end to the continuing violation of human rights in that country...

  • ♦ 23 August 2016
  • With great sorrow the SI has learned of the death while in jail of Ebrima Solo Kurumah, UDP party member, the second such case in five months. The SI calls for an urgent full investigation into the circumstances of this tragic death. The Socialist International remains extremely concerned about the lives of all those protestors incarcerated as we have now seen two political prisoners of this group who have lost their lives in the last few months.

TURKEY

SI condemns coup attempt and supports democracy in Turkey


16 JULY 2016


The Socialist International condemns the attempt by military forces in Turkey last night and in the early hours of this morning, to bring down the legitimately elected government of the country. Our organisation wholeheartedly shares and fully supports the clear and unequivocal statements made by the leaders of the CHP and the HDP, members of our global political family, as the coup attempt unfolds. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the CHP, said that the country had suffered previous coups and these developments should never be repeated in Turkey, adding that his party fully depends on the free will of the people, indispensable to Turkey’s parliamentary democracy…

venEZUELA

SI denounces ruling against amnesty and reconciliation law in Venezuela


12 April 2016


The Socialist International denounces the grave disregard of the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people and the usurpation of powers by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of the country, which yesterday declared as unconstitutional the Amnesty and National Reconciliation Law that had been approved by a majority in the National Assembly on 29 March this year. The resounding electoral victory in the elections to the National Assembly at the beginning of December 2015 was based on a clear proposal...

CIS, Caucasus and Black Sea

SI calls for an immediate end to the confrontation between Azerbaijanis and Armenians


04 APRIL 2016


The Socialist International has followed with great concern the hostilities and attacks that have taken place in the last 48 hours between Armenians and Azerbaijanis with a regrettable loss of numerous lives. Our International calls for an immediate ceasefire and for an end to these hostilities, and at the same time reiterates the urgent need for a resumption of dialogue within the framework of the Minsk Group, a body accepted by both Armenia and Azerbaijan and recognised by the multilateral organisations, to resolve through negotiation and in accordance with the principles of international law...

PAKiSTAN

SI Solidarity with the Pakistani people


28 March 2016


The Socialist International expresses its solidarity with the people of Pakistan as they come to terms with the horrendous terrorist attack carried out yesterday near Lahore. Over 70 people lost their lives as they enjoyed a Sunday afternoon in the park, including numerous women and children, and over 300 were injured. We strongly denounce this violent act, as we have other such terrorist attacks in Pakistan and elsewhere. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased and our sympathy is with all those injured and suffering as a result... 


Uganda

In support of democracy in Uganda


22 FEBRUARY 2016


In recent years the people of Africa have continued advancing and moving forward democratic governance in an important number of countries of the region. Today, more and more people in that continent enjoy freedoms and rights, a precondition for progress, development and peace. Members of the Socialist International in a good number of countries in Africa have been protagonists and actors of an era of change that has been bringing new opportunities and a new face to the political life of the continent. Nevertheless, authoritarianism, oppression and other evils of the past still linger in the political life of some of the countries in the region...

Socialist International