Martial law brings some calm to Guinea's capital
Sporadic gunfire rang through the suburbs of Guinea’s capital and trucks full of soldiers patrolled the streets, but Conakry was largely quiet as the onset of martial law imposed a strict curfew following three days of deadly protests.
Citizens were banned from leaving their homes for all but four hours in the afternoon after President Lansana Conte told the military to “take all necessary measures” to restore order.
Opposition leaders and trade unions accuse Conte of violating a power-sharing agreement and have demanded he step down.
At least 27 people were killed in three days of protests and clashes with security forces – most from gunshot wounds, according to medical officials and witnesses. Conakry’s League of Human Rights said it had counted at least 57 deaths in the country.
Despite the curfew, residents said they heard gunfire in the suburbs of the capital, and a few youths attempted to restart protests.
“They are still firing heavy arms. I didn’t sleep all night because of the shooting,” said Aissatou Diallo, a resident of the Madina neighbourhood. She added, however: “I see from my balcony people walking in the streets who are going to buy and sell things in the market. I even see some taxis.”
In the outlying neighbourhood of Dar-es-Salam, Alpha Oumar Bah said groups of youths started to gather again, but ran off after soldiers arrived and started shooting into the air.
Residents of the Bambeto neighbourhood said soldiers had forced entry into residential compounds and raped women.
“They got out and broke the door of the neighbouring compound. They entered the house looking for the two women there and they raped them,” said Mohammed Diallo, who said he saw the rape occur from his house next door.
Another Bambeto resident, Oumar Sory Bah, said most of the area’s young people had fled out of fear of being arrested. Most of those living in Bambeto belong to the Fulani ethnic group, whereas most of the military are the Soussou ethnicity of the ruling party.
Army Chief of Staff General Kerfalla Camara called on the military and paramilitaries to respect the conditions of the emergency state declared by Conte and to ensure normal circulation and working conditions when the curfew is not in effect, according to state radio broadcasts.
The US embassy ordered all staff family members to leave Guinea and urged private US citizens to go as well. The embassy flew out about 25 people on a US government plane to Dakar, Senegal.
