FINAL COMMUNIQUE
Â
1. The eighth session of the International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G) was held at the
Headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday
12 October 2009.
Â
2. The Group strongly condemns the brutal acts, rapes and the massacre perpetrated by
armed troops under the authority of the CNDD against women and unarmed civilians during
a gathering of members of the Forces Vives on 28 September 2009.
Â
3. The Group demands that the de facto authorities in Guinea:
Â
- Free all those who have been detained since September 28;
Â
- Give back the bodies of the victims to their families;
Â
- Allow all wounded persons in hospitals and outside, in particular raped women, to freely
receive medical care;
Â
- Lift obstacles to freedom of expression, movement and assembly;
Â
- Ban the bearing of weapons of war by military personnel outside barracks not under
active command.
Â
4. The Group urgently requests the United Nations Secretary General, in collaboration with
ECOWAS and the African Union, and with the support of the High Commission for Human
Rights, to facilitate the establishment of an International Commission of Inquiry to
investigate the 28 September 2009 gross human rights violations including the massacre of
unarmed civilians and rapes, identify the culprits and prosecute them in the competent
courts in Guinea or at the International Criminal Court so as to put an end to acts of
impunity. The Group urges all partners to immediately prepare mechanisms for appropriate
targeted sanctions to be imposed on the identified culprits.
Â
2
Â
5. The Group invites ECOWAS, with the support of its partners, to set up an international
observer and protection mission, comprising civilians and military personnel to protect the
members of the panel of enquiry and witnesses against acts of intimidation and to
contribute to the establishment of an atmosphere of security for the people of Guinea.
Â
6. The Group expresses serious concerns over information relating to the illicit trafficking and
circulation of arms in Guinea, requests ECOWAS to implement the relevant provisions of the
Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and recommends to the International
Community to impose total embargo on arms meant for Guinea.
Â
7. The Group reminds the Guinean authorities of their obligation to protect the civilian
population, including political leaders, leaders of labour unions and civil society as well as
foreigners residing in Guinea, especially members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,
who are guests of the country. It urges the authorities to take necessary measures to
guarantee their protection in accordance with the commitments that they freely made.
Â
8. The Group calls on the President of the CNDD to formalise not later than the deadline of 17
October 2009, fixed by the 204th meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council,
his commitment that neither himself nor members of the CNDD nor the Prime Minister
would contest the Presidential election, failing which the Group calls on the African Union
and relevant regional and international organisations to take appropriate measures.
Â
9. The Group expresses its full support to the President of Burkina Faso His Excellency Blaise
Compaore who has accepted the facilitation mission requested by the current Chairperson of
the ECOWAS following the request made by the President of the Commission of the African
Union on behalf of the ICG-G in conformity with the recommendations of its 7th Session held
on 22nd September 2009 in New York.
Â
10. To that end, the Group expresses its full support for a political solution aimed at creating a
new transitional authority, through dialogue if possible, and based on the withdrawal of the
CNDD, and ensuring a short and peaceful transition marked by the conduct of credible, free
and fair elections in which those holding key executive positions demonstrate total neutrality
throughout the electoral process.
Â
11. The Group thanks the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, current Chairperson of
ECOWAS, his government and the people of Nigeria, as well as the President of the
ECOWAS Commission and its staff for the fraternal reception and hospitality extended to its
members throughout their stay.
Â
12. The date and venue of the next meeting of the Group shall be determined after
consultations between the co-Chairs.
Done at Abuja, this 12th October 2009
Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Googlize this
Blinklist
Wikio
Export PDF
Print