WASHINGTON, DC20510
President Lansana Conte
c/o Alpha Oumar Rafiou Barry
Ambassador to the United States
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea
2112 Leroy Place, NW
Washington DC 20008

January 25, 2007

Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to express our concern about the recent violence in Guinea related to the ongoing nationwide strike. As the Chairmen of the United States Senate and House Subcommittees on Africa, respectively, we both have a long record of engagement in the continent and closely follow developments there.

Guinea has an admirable history of being a lynchpin of stability in a very volatile region, but the current crisis reveals deeply-rooted challenges that must be addressed if the country's peace and prosperity are to be restored and sustained. The freedoms of association and of speech are central to effective democracy, so we are troubled by reports of peaceful demonstrations being forcibly suppressed.

Such aggression violates human rights and must not be allowed to continue.
Additionally, those responsible for the recent deaths and abuses must be held accountable for their actions through scrupulous investigations and prosecutions.
Instead of attempting to silence dissent, real resolution of this conflict will only come with increased inclusiveness in Guinean politics and economics.
The first step towards reclaiming legitimacy in the eyes of your citizens and the world is to engage in productive dialogue with Guineans who feel unrepresented.

To demonstrate your commitment to democracy, we encourage you to facilitate the formation of a national unity government charged with organizing truly free and fair elections. Such leadership on your part would not only bring an end to the violent unrest that threatens Guinea's economic progress and international reputation, it would also lay the foundation for greater participation and prosperity and reestablish Guinea as a model for its neighbors and throughout Africa.

L’original de la lettre est disponible en version PDF ici

Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator
Chairman
Senate African Affairs Subcommittee

Donald M. Payne
United States Representative
Chairman
House Africa & Global Health Subcommittee
Une Correspondance de Ben Daouda Touré
Pour www.nlsguinee.com