EU imposes sanctions, arms embargo against junta leaders

The EU has issued an arms embargo on Guinea and slapped financial and travel sanctions on members of the country's ruling junta. The African country was plunged into crisis following the massacre of opposition protesters in Conakry in September.

By News Wires (text)

AFP - Guinea's military junta was hit with a European Union arms embargo and sanctions against its leaders on Tuesday, the bloc's Swedish presidency said.

"The council has decided to adopt measures targeting the members of the CNDD (junta) and individuals associated with them," according to council conclusions adopted at a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

"The council has also decided to impose an arms embargo on Guinea," the statement added in response to "gross violations of human rights" that have already resulted in a regional arms embargo among west African states.

The decision comes almost four weeks after a massacre at an opposition rally in the capital Conakry where more than 150 people were killed, according to United Nations estimates.

The EU sanctions would primarily involve freezing finances and not issuing visas for travel to Europe -- EU development aid for Guinea was already suspended earlier this year.

Troops opened fire in a Conakry stadium on September 28 at a rally urging junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara not to stand in elections planned for January.

The junta says 56 people were killed, while rights groups say that at least 157 people were killed and more than 1,200 hurt, including women who were raped by soldiers.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has opened an investigation.

Date created : 27/10/2009

Comments (4)

hi

by Anonyme - 04/12/2009 - 12:59

Guinea is a very rich country but the military is not in the intrest of the people of guinea.so dadis or not guinea need a civilion ruler.so we need real help from the international community other wise more people will still be kill in guinea.

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let we have some peace in guinea

by Anonyme - 04/12/2009 - 12:48

sorry about dadis bein shot by his men,dadis is not a leader because he just a simple military with no expirance leading a poor nation let guinea we need civilion to rule.

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GUINEAN LEADERSHIP

by Anonyme - 05/11/2009 - 13:23

IS DADIS CAMARA NOT A CITIZEN OF GUINEA? WHY WOULD HE NOT STAND FOR ELECTION?

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the guinea sanction

by Anonyme - 02/11/2009 - 07:43

why torture the country that has leaved in sanction since it proclamation of total independent in 1958, and there other ways to bring change to the poor people of guinea as the us did in iraq.

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Tahirou Sarr

by Anonyme - 28/10/2009 - 21:02

Afrique
Afrique mon Afrique
Afrique des malheureux guinéens dans les
rues de Conakry
Afrique que chante Dadis Camara...
Au bord du camp Alpha Yaya Diallo
Je ne t’ai jamais connue
Mais mon regard est plein de ton sang
Ton vilain sang noir répandu a travers
les gradins du stade du 28septembre
Le sang des guinéens
La sueur des opposants
L'écervelé de Dadis
La monarchie du pouvoir guinéen
Afrique dis-moi Afrique
Est-ce donc toi ce Dadis qui ordonne
Et martyrise les guinéens sous le poids de l'humilité
Cet irréfléchi de Dadis au béret rouge
Qui dit oui a la violence pour taire les opposants
Alors gravement une voix me répondit
Capitaine incapable de cette junte armée et dangereuse
Cette junte là-bas
Bétement seule au milieu du CNDD
Irréfléchie et armée
C’est l’Afrique ton Afrique qui recule
Qui recule machiavéliquement et démagogiquement...