News 14

Articles are in reverse chronological order. Click on the link for the full article, as most are not quoted in full. All items from Guineenews and reprinted with permission

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3347427.stm

For those interested, Guinean head of state General Lansana Conte was re-elected on Sunday. In results announced today, the incumbent was credited with 95.63% of the vote and his only challenger, little known Mamadou Bhoye Barry, received 4.37%. The election was boycotted by all the major opposition figures who also told their supporters to stay away from the polls on election day. The only suspense was over the participation rate which was officially announced at just under 83% by the ministry for territorial administration, which ran the poll. There were many reports that the boycott call was largely heeded in opposition areas. The re-election means that Gen. Conte, who took power in a 1984 military coup, will theoretically remain in power until 2010 though because of his illness, few believe he will live that long.

From: The BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3248024.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3306107.stm
As well as Guineenews - http://www.boubah.com/nArticles/index.asp?Id=993 and http://www.boubah.com/nArticles/index.asp?Id=1000

The big political news in Guinea recently was the purge of the country's army. Dozens of soldiers, many of who were believed to be high ranking officers, were reportedly arrested and detained in several locations across the country. Many of the arrested were believed to be high ranking officers and one was supposedly the son of former parliament speaker El Hadj Biro Diallo, a former ally of the head of state, Gen. Lansana Conte, who incurred the wrath of the regime by criticizing its excesses. The arrests happened shortly after Gen. Conte, addressed rumors of a possible coup d'Etat by warning the military against such a move. The move came only weeks before the scheduled 21 December presidential election, which is being boycotted by the main opposition parties. As of 8 December, there was still no trace of the arrested and the government had not officially commented. Authorities further responded by banning the carry of weapons in two of the country's main military camps. Today, the former head of an elite parachute battalion in Guinea was arrested in Conakry. The opposition and human rights groups condemned the arrests.

SYLI NATIONAL GIVEN TOUGH WORLD CUP DRAW
December 2003

From: FIFA - http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/zone/standings.html?zone=afr

The Guinean national soccer team was given a tough draw in its bid to qualify for World Cup 2006 in Germany. The Syli were drawn in the same group as a pair of north African powers Tunisia and Morocco along with southern African minnows Botswana and Malawi. Only the winner of the group will advance to Germany. Guinea's never qualified for the World Cup finals, although they fell just short of reaching the 1998 version. They were excluded from 2002 qualifying after being suspended by the world governing body FIFA. Guinea will also participate next month in the African Cup of Nations where their first round opponents will be newcomers Rwanda, former champions DR Congo and hosts Tunisia. Guinea's best performance in the continental competition was 2nd in 1976. They lost in the first round in their last appearnce in 1998.

NATIONAL GEO-STREET CHILDREN IN GUINEA
December 2003

From: National Geo website - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/highlights/doctors.html
The National Geographic Channel runs a regular series Doctors Without Borders: Life in the Field. It follows members of this group (known by its French acronym MSF) in their various field work. One of the segments of tonight's episode profiles an MSF who runs a center for street children (presumably in Conakry, though I'm not sure) which provides health care and education. The show airs tonight, December 10, from 10:00-11:30 PM eastern time.

PEACE CORPS WEEK
December 2003

From: Peace Corps website - http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.former.pcweek

The PC is again sponsoring Peace Corps week. "Each year during the Peace Corps anniversary, former Volunteers take time to celebrate the Peace Corps' birthday by sharing the knowledge and experience with their communities in the United States. As all Volunteers know, part of the Peace Corps' mission is to educate Americans back home about the people with whom they lived and worked. Peace Corps Week activities offer a great opportunity to promote a better understanding about the people of your host country among those in your current community." For more information, click on the above link.

In October the Dayton Daily News published a series, "Casualties of Peace," detailing security and safety concerns in Peace Corps. Over 150 RPCVs left their comments on the series by the Dayton Daily News on Volunteer Safety and Security. Take a few minutes and read some of the responses to the series that your fellow RPCVs have written at:

Army officers are picked up around the capital just weeks after
President Conte warns of a coup threat.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/africa/3248024.stm >

From: The BBC -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3263825.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3239829.stm
And: Guineenews -- http://www.boubah.com/nArticles/index.asp?Id=940

Guinea's ailing leader [oops, I better not say that... see next item] General Lansana Conte will have only one opponent in the upcoming December 21 presidential elections. The boycott of all the major opposition parties left the little known Mamadou Bhoye Barry as General Conte's only opponent for the next seven-year term. The European Union has announced it will not send observers to the poll because of doubts about its conduct.

Prime Minister Lamine Sidime weighed on on the vote in opining, "To be behind General Lansana Conte is to be behind God." Ironically, the only other person to serve as prime minister under Conte, Sidya Toure, is now a leading opposition leader.

---------------

OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER DORE ARRESTED THEN RELEASED
November 2003

From: The BBC -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3271289.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3273295.stm
Also: Guineenews -- http://www.boubah.com/nArticles/index.asp?Id=931

Jean-Marie Dore, head of the small Union for Progress in Guinea party, was arrested last week on charges on insulting the president. Dore told a radio program that the head of state, a diabetic, was too ill to contest the December 21 elections. In accepting the nomination of the ruling PUP party, General Conte admitted as much when he said he accept to be the PUP's presidential standard bearer but leave it to his subordinates to do the campaigning. Released from prison on his own recognizance, Dore remained defiant. "I never said President Conte was mentally ill. On the contrary, I maintain that he is sick and thus can not govern Guinea." The National Assembly refused to lift the immunity Dore enjoys as a member of parliament. It is unclear how or if this will affect his prosecution.

---------------

GUINEA ARMED LIBERIAN REBELS: HRW
November 2003

From: Human Rights Watch -- http://hrw.org/press/2003/11/liberia110503.htm

The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch accused the Guinean government of violating the United Nations arms embargo on Liberia. HRW accused Guinea, which is a member of the UN Security Council, of supplying weapons that the Liberian rebel group LURD used to commit atrocities. The Guinean government, who had poor relations with former dictator Charles Taylor, has long stood accused of arming the Liberian rebels. These charges were made not only by Taylor's regime but by opposition politicians inside Guinea who felt that the arms trafficking left Guinean border towns vulnerable to attack. Conakry has always denied the allegations.

---------------

SYLI NATIONAL ADVANCES IN SOCCER QUALIFIERS
November 2003

From: Guineenews -- http://www.boubah.com/nArticles/index.asp?Id=934

Guinea's national soccer team defeated Mozambique in Maputo by a score of 4-3; that combined with a 1-0 victory in Conakry gave the Guineans a 5-3 aggregate (overall) win. They now advance to the group stage of qualifiers for the 2006 African Nations Cup. The top five finishers at that tournament will also qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Guinea has already qualified for the 2004 Nations Cup in Tunisia in a few months.

The FRAD, a coalition of Guinea opposition parties,
has announced that it will boycott the presidential
election scheduled for next month. Opposition leader
Ba Mamadou told the BBC, "They have already prepared
documents to show the president won with 85%."
Omniously, he added, ""It will end up like Sierra
Leone, Liberia or Ivory Coast because if we cannot
discuss with the man in power, we will fight him the
way he wants."

Territorial Administration Minister Moussa Solano
rubished the claims, insisting that "all conditions
had been met so the election can be organised".

The European Union has refused to finance the
elections or send observers. The EU special
representative pointed to the lack of an independent
electoral commission and restricted access to state
media by opposition parties.

"I will never accept that someone comes to power by
force. Those who want power will have to wait until
the elections and contest it under the banner of a
political party," warned head of state Gen. Lansana
Conte, who came to power via a military coup in 1984.

Source: Associated Press -
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031024/ap_on_go_ot/peace_corps_resignation_2

Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez announced that he
will leave his post effective November 14, after 20
months in office. He gave no reason for the decision.

Presidential elections in Guinea have been scheduled
for December 21 of this year. Despite extremely poor
health, the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté will seek
re-election another 7 years in power. He's been in
office since 1984. The opposition coalition FRAD is
still deciding whether to participate in the
elections, as government-opposition dialogue has gone
in fits and starts. The only declared major challenger
at this point is Sidya Touré, who was Conté's prime
minister from 1996-1999. The former head of government
cautioned, "We in the opposition, as a united front,
are bent on ensuring that we have maximum
transparency, that our voices be recognised, that we
have the necessary observers in place and we have an
electoral commission of a calibre that we continue to
struggle for." Officially, long-time opposition leader
Alpha Condé is barred from standing following
conviction on treason charges.

(Source: The UN information network,
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=37387&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA
and
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=37325&SelectRegion=West_Africa)

Last week, Gen. Conté effectuated a "private visit" to
Havana, according to his office. Rumors circulated
that it was seek medical treatment for his extremely
fragile health. The magazine an issue of L'Intelligent
(formerly Jeune Afrique) that discussed the general's
health was briefly banned in Guinea.

The draw was recently held for the 2004 African
Nations' Cup. The Guinean national team's were drawn
in Group A and their first round matches will be
against Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and host country Tunisia. Guinea were fortunate to
avoid the tournament's "group of death" which pits
against each other powerhouses Nigeria, Morocco and
South Africa along with unlucky newcomers Benin. The
tournament will be held in the north African nation in
late January and early February 2004.

April 3rd was the 19th anniversary of the coup d'Etat which brought then-Col. Lansana Conté to the head of the Guinean state. According to Guinea news, there was no public celebrations, contrary to past years when there's typically been a military parade or flower planting at La Place des Martyrs or even an address to the nation by the head of state. The only ceremony in Conakry apparently took place at the miltiary barracks with the members of the army and presidential guard.

The US State Dept. issued its annual report on the human rights situation in other countries. In its section on Guinea, it cited "arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life," "torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" and "denial of fair public trial" among many other charges.

April, 2003. Guineenews: http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=428, http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=431

Two disturbing articles on Guineenews reported on exchanges of fire on the Guineo-Liberian border between Guinean forces and militiamen loyal to Liberian dictator Charles Taylor. The clashes occurred near Diecke in Lola prefecture. Guineenews stated, "The militiamen loyal to Charles Taylor had threatened to attack refugees who'd taken refuge in Guinea to flee the intense combats between pro- and anti-Taylor forces. The [Liberian] LURD rebels, after having taken Gbargna [former home base of Taylor] lost the town to Taylor's forces but still control Gantaa, on the Liberian side of the border near Diecke." Guinea is suspected of offering support and arms to the LURD rebels, due to the long standing bad feelings between Taylor and Lansana Conte, however these accusations are denied by Conakry. Taylor has also been accused of supporting anti-Conte rebels as well as rebels in the west of Cote d'Ivoire, charges similiarly denied by the Liberian govt. All this has occured despite the signing last year of a non-aggression pact between the two leaders as mediated by Morocco's King Mohammed VI.

April, 2003. Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/news/news/view.cfm?news_id=772

According to the PC website, "Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez announced [on April 3] the temporary suspension of the Peace Corps program in Morocco. Peace Corps volunteers in Morocco were consolidated on March 20 to allow Peace Corps staff in country and at headquarters in Washington, D.C. to evaluate the political and public climate in Morocco as a result of the events in Iraq. Peace Corps also offered volunteers the option of Interrupted Service for those who preferred not to continue their service."

[I include this article because I know some Guinea PCVs used to travel to Morocco on vacation and stay in their maisons de passage]

Group leaders have been informed that Chicago has been chosen to host the 2004 National Peace Corps Association's annual convention. This will take place from August 5-8, 2004. The theme will be "Peace Corps 2004: A Legacy of Service." The 2003 convention will be held in Portland, Oregon and is open all RPCVs as well as former and current PC staff, friends and family

PEACE CORPS ISSUES STATEMENT ON IRAQ SITUATION AND EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN FOR PCVs

April, 2003. If you're interested in the statement, you read it on the Peace Corps website at: http://www.peacecorps.gov/news/news/view.cfm?news_id=769

April, 2003. [From Guinéenews: http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=408]

While much of the world was focusing on Iraq, international development circles were keeping an eye on the 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan. Guinea was represented at the forum by its ambassador in Tokyo. The declaration from the conference "called international attention to the fact that water is an essential element in life, in sustainable development and in the fight for the eradication of poverty. In that sense, it recommends, among other measures, that priority be given at all levels to resolving problems linked to water and the inalienable right of access to water for all," explained Guinéenews.

April, 2003. [From Guinéenews: http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=412]

With the American decision to bypass the UN Security Council in the invasion of Irak, Guinea's turn as rotating president of the UN Security Council ended in anti-climactic fashion. Although the Iraq crisis got most of the media attention, the Guinean ambassador to the UN congratulated the UN's special tribunal for Sierra Leone for handing out its first indictments. The Guinean-chaired Council also discussed the situation in Somalia, Western Sahara, RD Congo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Central African Republic.

In mid-March, the Guinean capital was rocked by students protesting against an increase in fuel prices. "An official from the Guinean Organisation for the Defence of Human Rights said a 26-year-old man died in hospital on Tuesday from a bullet wound to his stomach. Medical officials in the capital Conakry said scores of injured were treated in hospitals across the town following the two-day protests. Police used tear gas and fired bullets in the air to disperse the demonstrators," reported the BBC adding that, "some public buildings had been damaged and roads were littered with abandoned vehicles."

April, 2003. [From Guinéenews: http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=407]

The Guinean national soccer team topped Niger 2-0 in Conakry with goals from Fodé Mansaré (40') and Mohammed Sylla (45'). The match was a qualifier for the 2004 African Nations Cup finals to be held in Tunisia. With the win, Guinea vaults to the top of their group with 6 points in 3 matches. Ethiopia also has 6 points but with an inferior goal differential tiebreaker. Liberia and Niger are on 3 points.

The evening of 10 June, rioting broke out in the Coyah (not far from Conakry) between bands of youth and the prefecture's anti-crime brigade. The young people, primarily aged between 15 and 30, came to Coyah Centre from Manéah, in the northwestern part of the prefecture. The brigade tried to arrest several people who were consuming but were quickly surrounded by a large crowd of youths, according to Guineenews. The agents apparently fired in self-defense and lightly injured three people, including one girl. However, rumors quickly spread around the village that someone had been killed and this is when the problems started. The rioters' first stop was the residence of the prefet who was fortunately, for himself, able to calm them temporarily however there was a lot of property damage.

The refugee situation in the southeastern forest region of Guinea is becoming increasingly complex. Although some Ivorians and Sierra Leonians have been repatriated due to the calming of the situations in those countries, the civil war in Liberia is causing more refugees to flee that country. Furthermore, the UN High Commission for Refugees (HCR) alleged that the Kouankan camp, which had been used to shelter 33,000 refugees, has recently been used as a rear base for the LURD, the main Liberian rebel group. Concerned by this and by alleged cases of rape in the camps, HCR worked with the Guinean government to transfer refugees from Kouankan to Albadaria, near Kissidougou.

The promise of Liberian dictator Charles Taylor to resign was greeted with by optimism and caution by those in the region. Taylor is accused of destabilizing all of his country's neighbors. He actively supported the RUF rebel group in Sierra Leone and was, as a result, indicted for war crimes by the UN special court for Sierra Leone. He supported the hardline MPIGO rebel group in Cote d'Ivoire. And he is believed to have armed those behind the incursions that caused widespread damage in numerous parts of southern Guinea. However, many in Guinea and elsewhere are maintaining caution until Taylor actually departs the scene. There are tens of thousands of Liberian refugees in Guinea.

Despite only needing a tie, the Guinean national soccer team thrashed Ethiopia 3-0 on Sunday in Conakry. As a result, le Syli national qualified for the 2004 African Nations Cup (CAN) finals to be held early next year in Tunisia. The qualification marks a spectacular return for the Guineans. In 2001, they were expelled from international soccer for government interference; they only rejoined international play last August. They will be joined in Tunisia by Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Senegal, DR Congo, Egypt, South Africa, Algeria and the host country, as well as debutants Benin, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, whose 1-0 win over 4-time CAN winners Ghana was one of the greatest upsets in recent African soccer history. Guinea's last participation at the CAN was in 1998, when they were eliminated in the first round group stage.

Several foreign dignitaries were refused entry to Guinea despite having entry visas. The group had arrived at the Conakry-Gbessia airport with Guinean opposition figure Alpha Conde, all of whom were scheduled to attend a conference in Conakry on the role of political parties. "The government was not fully informed about this conference, and we had not authorised its organisation on Guinean territory," said Moussa Solano, minister of territorial administration. "The foreign dignitaries who arrived had no proper documents to come across our borders, that is why we denied them entry." However, Solano admitted that some of the delegates were citizens of ECOWAS states who had granted visas, according to the BBC. One of Solano's claims was denied by one member of the group. A French socialist deputy insisted to Radio France Internationale that the theme of the conference was fully disclosed to Guinean officials when the visa applications were made. The expulsees included former Senegalese Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2975834.stm , http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/africa/03/tangled_war/html/default.stm , http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3003659.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2980710.stm

The Guinean government is surely following closely the advance of the Liberian rebel groups LURD and MODEL. The rebels are presently on the outskirts of the capital Monrovia, although a cease fire has apparently been agreed. The rebels stated aim is the removal of head of state Charles Taylor, who was recently indicted for war crimes by the UN Special Court in Sierra Leone. There is certainly no love lost between Charles Taylor and Lansana Conte. Conte backed another faction in the first Liberian civil war in the 1990s and has been accused by Taylor's government of supporting LURD. Conakry accused Taylor of being behind the cross-border attacks in Gueckedou, Kissidougou and other parts of southern Guinea in late 2000. The previous civil war sent hundreds of thousands of Liberian refugees into the forest region of Guinea.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POWER CUT PROTESTS --- BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2714291.stm (31 January)

Hundreds of angry youths protested in the Ratoma quarter of Conakry against a series of blackouts that plagued the Guinean capital in late January. The BBC explained, "Since the beginning of the year, Conakry has been paralysed by continuous power-cuts. The outages usually start at 0700 local time (0700 GMT) and, in most parts of the city, electricity is not restored before midnight. Only administrative sections of the capital and areas where government ministers and other officials live, enjoy a 24-hour electricity supply at the moment. The youths were chased and eventually dispersed by the police who fired tear gas into the crowd, but not before the demonstrators had stoned and damaged government property, including cars and windows on public buildings. Several demonstrators suffered injuries and some arrests were made," adding that, "Officials at the electricity company say the shortages are a result of the fall in water levels in the country's two main hydro-electric dams, which are supposed to supply the entire country with electricity at this time of year. They say last year's record low rainfalls have created the problem. But some Guineans put the company's poor performance down to the recent termination of a contract that would have seen it merge with a French power operator. Since the pull-out by the French company in the middle of last year, the electricity supply situation here has remained erratic at best - and this latest run of black-outs has been the worst for a long time."

(Note: according to Guinéenews, http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=310, the shortage of water and electricity in Conakry and several cities of the interior was still a problem in mid-February)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The pan-African weekly L'Intelligent (formerly Jeune Afrique) ran several interesting articles this month on the state of health of head of state Gen. Lansana Conté and its potential ramifications... unfortunately only two of them are still available free online. For you French readers...

'Pendant que Conté se soigne' (While Conté recovers) explains how his entourage have gone on the offensive against the opposition "in order to distract attention from the head of state's sickness and fill the void in the country. http://www.lintelligent.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN09023pendaengios0

'Retour à l'école' (Return to school) reports on Kassory Fofana, the former Guinean finance and economy minister who received two doctorats on 2 February from the American University in DC. The article describes Fofana as being considered "by many observers as the most serious contender in the race to succeed Lansana Conté." He was minister for several years, is suspected of implication in a corruption scandal and quit the government for reasons that were unclear at the time. http://www.lintelligent.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN09023retoueloclr0

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUINEA AT THE FRANCE-AFRICA SUMMIT AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL -- Guineenews: http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=322 and http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=323 (20 February)

Guinea is one of the 52 countries represented at the 22nd France-Africa summit whose theme is "Africa and France: together for a new partnership." Guinea's delegation is headed by Prime Minister Lamine Sidimé. The French hosts spoke in favor of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) project conceived and promoted by the presidents of South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal and promised a 50% raise in the next 5 years in French development aid.

Guinea is presently on the UN Security Council and will chair that body next month. Many observers see Guinea as being torn between the divergent French and American positions on the Iraq situation. France traditionally has closer economic and political ties to Guinea but the United States has increased military cooperation with Conakry inthe last few years.

When asked about this, Deputy State Department Spokesman Philip Reeker commented that "Guinean leaders should act in the greater interest of their people. That's all I have to say. Guinea is a sovereign country and its leaders should always know what is good for their people and what isn't. Once again, I remind you that it's a sovereign country fully responsible for what has to be done."

When asked why the United States does not attack African dictators who profilgate corruption, dictatorship and human rights' abuses, Reeker responded, "Of course there are dictators on that continent where you see abuses of all kinds. It must be recognized that significant progress has been registered in the last 10 years on the continent. The Iraq case is different and unique. Saddam is more dangerous. He uses very dangerous chemical and biological weapons."

[Note: translated from French to English by myself. I believe, although I am not certain, that the interview was originally conducted in English by Guineenews' correspondent and then translated into French]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM FALLS TO MALI -- Guineenews: http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=305 (12 February)

The Guinean national team fell to Mali by a score of 1-0 in Toulon, France. The match was a friendly in preparation for both teams next match in the African Nations' Cup qualifying process. Guinea's next CAN qualifier is against Niger is on 30 March in Conakry. Although tied on points with the other teams (Niger, Ethiopia and Liberia), they head their group on goal difference.

Below is a press release from the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) on a poll they conducted concerning Americans' attitudes on Africa and African development issues. Thanks to RPCV Jon Goldin-Dubois (Tougue '94-96) of Common Cause in Denver for passing this along. See the website http://www.pipa.org for more extensive information.

--Favors Increases in Cooperation on Terrorism, Trade with Africa,
Proportion of Foreign Aid to Africa

College Park, MD: Despite the fact that America's conflicts with Iraq, North Korea and Al Qaeda have dominated headlines, the American public believes that the US should increase its engagement with Africa in a variety of ways. An overwhelming 74% rejected the argument that "The US has no vital interests in Africa. Therefore the US should make Africa a lower priority when deciding where to distribute its aid,"while only 23% found it convincing. A 44% plurality said that the US is not concerned enough with Africa, while just 12% said that it was too concerned.

A key area where Americans want to see increased engagement with Africa is
in the war on terrorism. Seventy-one percent of respondents said the US should increase military and police training and exchange intelligence with African countries.

A solid majority supports the kind of increased US-Africa trade that was the focus of the recent US-Africa Economic Forum in Mauritius. A robust 60% of respondents expressed support for African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which was described as legislation that "eliminated import restrictions on nearly all goods produced in African countries that agreed to embrace market-oriented economic policies and move to open up their markets to US trade and investment." As a general principle, 57% said that "if countries in Africa say they will lower their barriers to products from the US if we will lower our barriers to their products," the US should agree to this.

There is also sentiment in favor of increasing the portion of US foreign aid that goes to Africa. Asked to estimate what portion of US foreign aid goes to Africa, the median estimate was 15%. Asked how much it should be, the median proposed amount was 20%--one-third more than the presumed portion, and nearly twice the actual portion of US foreign aid that goes to Africa, which is 11%.

Perhaps the most striking finding is that Americans also show a readiness to spend a greater total amount on aid for Africa than is presently the case. Asked, "How many of your tax dollars would you be willing to have go to economic and humanitarian aid for African countries?" the median response was $20, when in fact for the median taxpayer about $3 goes to aid for Africa. However, because Americans are not aware of the actual amount of aid that goes to Africa, there is not a majority calling for increased aid.

Steven Kull, director of PIPA commented, "Given all of the international concerns that are competing for Americans' attention--including terrorism, Iraq and North Korea-it would be easy to assume that Americans have lost interest in Africa. This poll, however, shows that this is not the case. Americans do see important links between developments in Africa and their own interests and values."

--An overwhelming 86% said that that the US should not try to stop African countries from developing generic AIDS drugs.

--Most Americans are not aware that democracy in Africa has grown over the least 10 years. Less than one in five-18%-knew that the number of African democracies has increased in this period.

--Support for aid to Africa is greatly dampened by the belief that a majority of aid money ends up in the pockets of corrupt officials: an overwhelming majority (80%)would favor an increase in aid if they had more confidence that the aid would really help the people who need it.

--Support for President Bush's proposed Millennium Challenge Account-which would result in increased aid to Africa as well as other regions-varies from about half to three quarters depending on how the question is framed, with support being higher in response to more information.

--A majority (55%) said the US has a moral responsibility to participate in military interventions in Africa to stop genocide, and a strong majority (66%) said the US should have intervened in Rwanda in 1994. Fifty-nine percent favored providing training for a multinational African force that would be prepared to intervene in cases of large-scale ethnic killings.

The poll was conducted with a nationwide sample of 1,146 American
adults over December 19, 2002-January 1, 2003. The margin of error was plus or minus 3%. The poll was fielded by Knowledge Networks using its nationwide research panel, which is randomly selected from the national population of households having telephones and subsequently provided internet access.

For more information about this methodology, go to: www.knowledgenetworks.com/ganp.

In addition, a supplementary poll of 504 American adults was fielded through
Communications Center, Inc. over January 2-10, 2003. Its margin of error was plus or minus 4.5%.

BIG FISH CIRCLE GUINEA (BBC -- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2808251.stm)

Guinea has become a focus of international diplomatic attention. On Saturday, it assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council which it will chair during the month of March, when the Iraq situation may come to a head. BBC reporter Mark Doyle wrote an interesting personal narrative (see above for link to full piece) in which he opined, "Top Guinean officials are confident types. They seem to lack the bureaucratic inferiority complex that's inbred in the parts of French-speaking Africa that have been dominated by France for decades." He pointed out that Guinea's vote may be crucial in any second UN resolution on Iraq and the BBC journalist notes, "In theory Guinea should vote against immediate military action. Along with the rest of Africa, Guinea signed up to this position at a recent summit in Paris, to the delight of the French. Guinea is also instinctively opposed to an early war because, like Iraq, it is a mainly Muslim country. Weighed against this, Guinea has been heavily wooed by the United States. Washington opposes the government in Liberia as well, and generally approves of Conakry's actions in the west African region. The Americans have given limited military training to the Guinean army - for defensive purposes only, you understand - but it's clear which side the US is on and Guinea welcomes that."

----------------------------------------------------------------

FRANCO-AMERICAN RIVALRY IN GUINEA (Guineenews -- http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=339)

Guineenews' Los Angeles correspondent Mouctar Baldé also commented on Guinea's place in the Iraq issue and linked it to the emerging Franco-American rivalry in Guinea. He noted that although Guinea shares a language and strong economic links with France, antipathy toward the former colonial power was high after independence. Not only did French leader Charles de Gaulle immediately punish Guinea for their "NON" vote in the 28 September 1958 referendum, but the United States (along with Britain, Ghana, Taiwan and the Soviet Union) were key in getting the newly independent country admitted into the United Nations, despite French opposition. Recently, the United States has increased military cooperation with Guinea to help the Conté regime deal with instability in neighboring Liberia. Baldé suggested that with the collapse of the Cote d'Ivoire (long considered the most pro-French country in Africa) and the rise of the regime of Charles Taylor in Liberia (formerly an important foothold of American interests in Africa) to which Washington is overtly hostile, both Western powers are looking to extend their influence in West Africa.

----------------------------------------------------------------

GUINEAN FILMMAKER HONORED AT FESPACO (Guineenews -- http://www.boubah.com/Articles/Articles.asp?Id=343)

Guinean director and actor Cheick Doukouré was honored at the FESPACO film festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Doukouré was rewarded with the prize for best male interpretation for his role in the film Paris selon Moussa (Paris According to Moussa). The film tells the story of a Guinean peasant who goes to Paris to buy a water pump where, in order to save money, he lodges at a church occupied by "sans papiers" (immigrants without documents).

WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHES TECHNOLOGICAL PEACE CORPS

Posted March 05, 2003 02:30 Pacific Time

WASHINGTON -- Volunteers from U.S. companies and the federal
government will soon head to the African nation of Senegal to
help the country improve its technology industry and its
economy, according to the White House.

On Tuesday, the White House and the U.S. Department of
Commerce announced the creation of the Digital Freedom
Initiative, a program designed to help developing nations
grow their technology industries. Senegal, a mostly Muslim
nation in West Africa, will be the first participating
country in a three-year pilot program, and if the Senegalese
experience is successful, the U.S. government would send
volunteers to 20 countries in the following five years.

For the full story:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/03/05/HNpeacecorps_1.html