Dakar
24 March 2009
Ahmed Tidiane Souare (file) |
Former prime minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and former mining ministers Ousmane Sylla and Lounceny Nabe were brought to the military's Camp Alpha Yaya Diallo to answer questions about their management of funds meant to develop Guinea's mining industry.
The military's minister of state control, Al-Hassan Onipougi, says the three men are accused of misusing more than 26 billion Guinean Francs, which is more than $5.5 million.
Captain Moussa Dadis Camara (file photo) |
Appearing before Captain Camara earlier this month as part of a televised interrogation, Souare said all the money in question was used for official purposes and for what he called the geopolitical security of the sub-region. Souare said he spent more than $1 million to buy 65 vehicles for the mining ministry. He said he also spent $1 million renovating a hospital in the town of Kamsar.
Captain Camara came to power accusing the former government of widespread corruption. He has since arrested several people associated with the Conte government including senior police officials and the former president's son, Ousmane, who was seen on television confessing to smuggling cocaine.
The military's ruling National Council for Democracy and Development is promising to hold elections in 2010. Captain Camara says the military has no wish to cling to power, and the only reason elections can not be held sooner is because he says Guinea's territorial integrity could be compromised.
Captain Camara has promised not to run in the next election. Guinea has been suspended from both the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States until a democratically-elected civilian government is restored.