Guinean Army Seeks Forgiveness for Abuses Against Civilians

Admiral Zaoro Patrice Sylla on Tuesday asked his compatriots to forgive the Guinean armed forces for the death of 200 civilians during the January-February 2007 mutinies.

Speaking in the name of staff of the Guinean armed forces at the launch of the Day of Dialogue, an initiative being held in Conakry, Admiral Sylla also spoke about the May mutiny which disrupted peace in the Guinean capital and the inland provinces of the country.

Many observers hailed this mea culpa, saying that it opens the way to reconciliation between the soldiers and the civilians.

During the clashes which had pitted the police and the army in June, the army chief of staff, General Diarra Camara, had already requested the forgiveness of the population of Conakry for the consequences of those incidents on their lives.

This Day of Dialogue, organized by the Economic and Social Council, are intended to promote dialogue in Guinea, a country which is going through a deep economic and political crisis.

Source African Press Agency

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