Outbreak of Violence in Guinea Creates Opportunity for Sexual Abuse

As if men were impatiently waiting for a "chaotic opportunity," as soon as the conflict broke out in Guinea, sexual violence including public rape of women hiked unprecedentedly. The Republic of Guinea, estimated population of 10 million people, is located on the West coast of Africa. The only French colony, to reject de Gaulle's new community, gained its independence in 1958 with elected president Sekou Toure. Former president Toure, like many other leaders in Africa, remained in power until his death in1984, giving way to military coup leader Lasanna Conteh; who was later elected democratically as president in 1993 which marked the beginning of civilian rule in Guinea.

According to the CIA Factbook Guinea has always had a history of authoritarian rule since its independence from France. As stated earlier, President Conte came to power through military means. Though there were reports of fraudulent elections, President Conte was re-elected in 1998 and again in 2003. Similar to Toure's, Conte's death in 2008, resulted in another "bloodless" military coup, this time with Captain Moussa Dadis Camara as military leader. Capt. Camara suspended the constitution as well as political and union activity in order to lead the country by military rule.

Despite, regional instabilities surrounding Guinea, it has managed to maintain some level of general peace, yet has fallen short of its own internal vulnerability of subtle political and economic crisis. The CIA Factbook suggests, "declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006, and a third nationwide strike in early 2007" and now even more evident in the most recent violent outbreak on September 28, 2009.

Al Jazeera News reports that Captain Camara's military government crackdown on 50,000 opposition leaders gathered at the Conakry Sports Stadium to protest ruling military power recommendation to enter into a national unity government, resulted in the deaths of at least 157 people with reports of widespread brutality and sexual violence against women. Within the space of 3-4 weeks (i.e., October 30, 2009), the African Union (AU) imposed sanctions on military rulers in Guinea mainly because of the intensity of violence and human rights abuses.

According to France 24 in the midst of "blood bath and harrowing tales" an estimated 30 women have allegedly being brutally raped by soldiers. Stories from eyewitnesses, survivors and others:

"They raped me. I went out of the stadium naked, naked, naked," a political activist said (quoted from France 24)

"I went back behind the gate, I found another soldier there. He took his gun (…) and he forced it into the vagina of a girl,” an eyewitness said (quoted from France 24)

"Group rape, rape in broad daylight on a pitch…really that is unusual in Guinea… and that is worrying. They are afraid to come and even we are not very comfortable talking about these rapes because we worry about the consequences of speaking out," a doctor said, (quoted from France 24)

“I can’t sleep at night, after what I saw, and I am afraid. I saw lots of women raped, and lots of dead.” said one middle-aged woman (quoted from New York Times)

"I saw a women who was stripped naked...They tore off tore off her clothes. They surrounded her. They made her lie down. They lifted up her feet, and one of the soldiers advanced. They took turns." (quoted from Politics Daily)

"I affirm, in categorical fashion, that women were raped, not just one woman," said Mamadou Mouctar Diallo, 34, an opposition leader (quoted from Feministing)

" They especially tore into the women. They were seeking to humiliate them" said former opposition prime minister, François Lonsény Fall (quoted from Feministing)

So, rape as a weapon of war appears to be endemic, premeditated, systematic, and unending. What do you think should be done to protect women and girls from sexual violence during violent conflicts in Africa?

Compiled by Veronica P. Fynn

RESOURCES
Videos

Warning! Emotional Scenes

Amid the Blood Bath, Harrowing Tales of Rape
Outcry as Dozens are Killed at Conakry Protest
The Coup Seen from "Baghdad"
Mon Pay Va Mal
Scores Killed at Guinea Protest
Guinee, Conakry

Weblinks
Guinee Conakry
Afrique Index
Guinea News
Al Jazeera
Guinea News
CIA Factbook
History World
Politics Daily
New York Times
France 24
Feministing