coup - government - Guinea Conakry
Banker Kabine Komara becomes new Guinean PM
Tuesday 30 December 2008
The National Council for Democracy and Development of Guinea, which seized power after the death of President Lansana Conte last week, has appointed banker Kabine Komara as the new civilian prime minister.
Special Report 'President General' Conte's death turns new page for GuineaTuesday 30 December 2008
By Julien FANCIULLI - Rachel MARUSAK (video)AFP - Banker Kabine Komara, who was named prime minister by the military junta which seized power in Guinea last week, is an accomplished technocrat but a newcomer on the country's political scene.
Komara was working in Cairo as a senior director of the African Export-Import Bank when the announcement came.
Noted for his competence and background knowledge Komara graduated from the elite academy Ecole superieure d'administration in Conakry, got degrees from the University of Colorado in the United States and the American University in Cairo and holds an MBA from the Ecole superieure de commerce at Rennes, France.
Born in 1950 Komara started his career in the 1970s working for Guinea's central bank under Ahmed Sekou Toure (1958-1984), Guinea's leader turned dictator.
In 1975 Komara crossed over to work in the private sector when he took a job at the Friguia company which produces aluminium in Fria near Conakry. Guinea is a leading bauxite exporter, a mineral used to make aluminium.
After a two-year stint working as the deputy director of the personnel department of the Guinean Bauxite company CBG he returned to work for the government in 1986 at the planning ministry following the 1984 coup by the late president Lansana Conte.
In the 1990s he continued to work for the finance and planning ministry in Guinea serving as a liaison between the government and the African Development Bank.
In 1995 Komara left Guinea to take a job at the African Export-Import Bank based in Cairo. The Afrimexbank was created to stimulate inter-African trade.
As prime minister of Guinea the former banker has his work cut out for him.
Despite the country's vast mineral wealth more than half of the population live below the poverty line, corruption is widespread and social tensions boil beneath the surface.
Pour aller plus loin
Pour aller plus loin
10/01/2009 01:38:47 Alert a moderator
The coutry I love
By Mahawa B - United States/Atlanta
I am not too interested in politics.
But my love for my country Guinea and believe in the democratic process, all I can say is that this was not the proper way to come to power. I do not want to judge the new government. I pray and hope that they will do the right thing for the country and its people.
Before you criticize anybody always think “It is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for country” I hope I said it right.
Let all the children of Guinea look for what we can do for our country and work toward it.
05/01/2009 04:56:50 Alert a moderator
Behind the curtain again!
By Anonyme Thiamos - Minnesota USA
I do not believe that Moussa Daddis will bring change in Guinea. He will be there just to back the army and give the army a higher salary. Why not raise all the worker's salaries. The people of Guinea do not need many minister's or need to be changing them all the time. It seems that everytime a new minister starts they start embezzeling the Guinean's money. We should choose a minister that is determined by the people of Guinea not by the president. I encourage the people of Guinea to have hope and not to give up. We need change for our kids and the future of our country.
03/01/2009 06:20:34 Alert a moderator
Transition in Guinee
By Ismael .B - U.S.A
As Guinean, I am very concern about the situation of my country; if I express myself and left this issue out, I will be wrong. Kabine Komara appointment as a premier minister is not the solution for us because Komara himself, have previously served under the regime of Gle Lansana Conte for many years. I am not surprised about this prior arrangement organized by same member of the labor union in Conakry. Guineans have an economics problem, not a banker problem. I believe the people of Guinea still do not understand. If the new president does not be watchful, he will be in the same situation as Gle Lansana Conte caused by the same civilians in Guinea. Komara will not be able to do anything for us. We need someone new, who was never involved in any type of dishonesty in the Guinea administration before. If you ask Komara now to tell you how much money Guineans need to invest now as a present value to obtain a future value of two billions dollars in two years with all the country potentiality in natural resource, he will not be able to do it. We are in very complex situation right now. Therefore, we need a really good economist and experienced for this country of ours.
Let wait and see.
02/01/2009 17:23:13 Alert a moderator
I want change!
By Anonyme - USA,rockville,md
I dont know this new person, that wants to be president, he is a newcomer, in a way, I want him to lead but in another way, I believe he will be corrupted by his fellows army people becoz after he gets hold of the money, he will feel comfortable and will feel the power of owning it all. This is scarey matter, Guinea needs someone that can be in power and that is not greedy.For my opinion, I dont think this "kabine" can do that, because, he doesnt have money and if he gets hold of the countries mine and resources, he will establishe his own empire and will start killing citizens of guinea. I would rather have some one that is not greedy,and who wants the better of my country guinea. If he will be appointed, I wish that he gets the best advisors ever(advisors that dont need money, but wants to improve the country first).We want to for who ever is president, to open new jobs, build road, restore electricity, water, I mean drinkable water, I want the new president to build new roads, and allow business owners to be successful, so they can hire most of us students who are in need of jobs and better life for the future. I pray for the new president to be loyal(I mean the real sense of the word), I pray that the new president whoever he is to make sure that our kids of Guinea be immune to different infections, and will build and restore the hospitals of the country. Please help us help guinea, the population is growing and we are being booted out of Guinea just because, the politicians dont want no one else to have successful life except them.The corrupt government doesnt want any one to leave the country or to enter the country because the corrupt government just want the money to themselves. We have families that are scared everyday for their lives and it is very sadnening. I want to be able to travel to Guinea without fear of prosecution or hatred or humiliation. Please help Guinea, regains its beautiful trees and waters and crops..One love.
02/01/2009 06:06:34 Alert a moderator
Behind the curtains
By Anonymous - USA
I believe that Moussa Daddis Camara is only in power because of his relationship with the corrupt previous president Lansana Conte. The people of Guinea are supporting Moussa because they believe that he will bring change because he is young and will have new ideas. People should look how corrupt Lansana Conte was by looking at what his loyalists and minister had. Where did they get all the money to purchase everything they possess. Why were these people arrested and released. If really Moussa Daddis Camara wants to help the country he should not lead the country until elections can be organizied. Why is he wanting to wait until 2010 before an election is held rather than as soon as one can be organizied. My opinion is any of the previous government members who embezzeled money from the people of Guinea should be arrested and taken out of power. The country of Guinea does not need military power. After 50 years of corruption we need change!!! These problems are seen evident in the country being without electricity, water, and their terrible road conditions and nothing is being done about it. When will change come to help improve our country. We do not need what has been there for many years but something new and fresh that will bring a change and improve our country. This is a country we want to continue to be proud of and love for years to come. A leader that is for the people and the country is what we should all fight for.
02/01/2009 05:05:23 Alert a moderator
Guinea new PM
By Youssouf - Michigan
The appointee PM is great technocrat with international work experience. we hope he will bring the country a new light and hope that we need.
01/01/2009 19:57:04 Alert a moderator
recognition of the New Leader in Guinea
By F - London
I am really glad that the army took over ( Dadis Camara) and I believe they will do a lot better for the country Guinea than the previous governments so please give the new president the chance to make those changes. I also believe that Dadis Camara is honest and patriot and he want a brighter future for the republic of Guinea so he needs our support not criticism. I am therefore asking the African Union to recognise him as the new president of Guinea.
31/12/2008 17:29:16 Alert a moderator
Guinea
By Djibril Bangoura - Conakry
I'm talking to the 2 later reactor i mean Camara and le anonymous. In fact i can testify that you're not and citizen of this country because what ever you are telling is wrong, we should give trust to the new president in fact it's a the people is supporting them and they are better than all those old gouvernement's menber.
Glory to the CNDD and le president Dadis Camara
30/12/2008 22:08:08 Alert a moderator
COUP D'ETAT IN GUINEA
By ABDOULAYE BHOYE DIALLO - USA/ATLANTA
As a guinean I think and believe that Guinea will be better off with cpt Moussa Camara than with Sompare.Trust me ,Sompare,one of the residues of Sekou Toure would carry the same stupidity that Sekou and Lansana Conte did to the country during 50 years.I'm glad this young captain took the power without gun-shot . Listening to him ,I think he (Moussa Davis) will bring changes that a small country as Guinea needs.I also am glad that the population of guinea welcomed him well.OBAMA & MOUSSA FOR CHANGE.
30/12/2008 18:48:47 Alert a moderator
am realy disapoited
By camara - guinea
realy our contry will never have a good leader if the army still on the power , eu or us sould help us to have a civilian president . this contry its realy going more and more down , we are almost the most richess contry in world in resorces but even clean water we dont have. this message its for the european or usa forces pls help us to have an civilian president we hate the army here the just gonna destroy our contry .pls help guinea
30/12/2008 14:08:04 Alert a moderator
New Prime Minstre for Guinee
By Anonyme - Conakry.Guinee
I will be very surprised and disappointed, if someone of Kabine Koroma will accept this appointment from Junta.Joining the coupmakers will amount to be a part of it, and he will be responsible for all the criminal acts, the Junta make commit.