Family and freinds! Its just after midnight Guinean time and I am in the computer room of the Conakry compound trying to follow the news. Rumours abound. International news services are predicting the worst, despite almost complete calm on the streets at the moment. Tanks and military checkpoints are currently set up all over Conakry, but the guns are quiet. State radio just announced the list of mutineers, but it is unclear if the mutineers command the support of the entire army, or merely a faction. Today the Coup dÉtat leaders announced the dissolution of the government, but that statement was immiedietley contradicted by the leader of the supposed civillian governement who claimed that the coup leaders were in the minority. This does not bode well. Despite other Peace Corps programs surviving military Coups in-country (recentley Mauratainia), the rumors and preperations for the worst succeed in charging the atmosphere. Guineans are by nature incredibly peaceful; despite three civil wars in neighboring countries and the associated refugee influx (Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote DÍvoire), 50 years of dissapointed hopes post independance, abundant resources, and stark ethnic divisions (three major ethnic groups and dozens of minor ones), Guinea has managed to avoid the type of brutak civil war that ravaged many of their nieghbors. Protestors in neighboring countries have chanted "we are not guineans"outside the parlimentary complex's of their leaders, implying that they will not submit passivley to years of authoratarian rule as the Guineans have done. However, a quick look at transparancey international ( ), or any other development indicators will tell you that the vast majority of Guineans remain in extreme poverty. I will refrain from talking more politics on the blog, but suffice it to say, enough is enough, and Guinea will not slumber forever. I sincerley hope Guinea will avoid bloodshed, and the coup leaders will smoothly transfer power to a civillian governement, but I am not going to hold my breath. We will see...

I am in no way nervous for my own saftey, but, I am worried about Peace Corps and about Guinea. Though i'd really like to wriet a real blog entry, I am too pre-occupied with the news. A demain...(tomorrow!)

Con



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7797629.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/world/africa/24guinea.html?_r=1