- Guinea's army chiefs have urged the ruling junta to delay elections scheduled for later this year saying the country is not ready to organise credible presidential and parliamentary elections in 2009.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Colonel Oumar Sanoh told the ruling junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power in a bloodless coup when veteran President Lansana Conte died, that that he should extend his time in office to finish some of the projects started over the past five moths ago.
"Guinea is not ready to organise presidential and parliamentary elections in 2009. The people want you to agree to a delay," Colonel Sanoh said on state television.
Captain Camara who took power in a coup last December, suspending the civilian government and vowing to organise free, credible, and transparent elections had earlier indicated that the west African state will hold elections in 2010, but backed down on his plan as international pressure mounted on his regime.
The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States suspended Guinea because of the coup and urged military rulers to hold polls sooner. A coalition of political parties, labor unions, civil society groups, and religious leaders asked for elections this year.
International bodies have widely condemned Captain Camara’s coup and have said they will only support the country if the military ruler sticks to promises made.
Guinea is the world's largest producer of aluminum ore, but remains one of Africa's poorest countries.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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