I dreamed in the early 2000s that I visited a humble African village in an unknown country where black tribespeople were dressed in traditional clothing and put "matarr" somewhere on their bodies for some kind of ritual.

If Matarr is a word in any of your country's languages, what does it mean in English and how is it used?

If Matarr is an item used in any of your rituals, what more can you tell me about that ritual and why does the Matarr need to be used in it?

The Guinean president forced a Constitution to allow him to stay president for life. The scrutin was met with protests and dozen of people were killed during demonstration by the police forces.

However the text proposed is significantly different than what was ultimately promulgated.

For example there will be no independent candidate so the ruling party will be allowed to present a candidate who is more likely to win.

Many politicians who backed the illegal move by Condé (the 2010 Constitution forbid any attempt to extend presidential term beyond 2 times 5 years) hoping they will be able to succeed him in the unlikely case he won’t seek re-election are now feeling being duped.

The Opposition parties never recognized the scrutin neither was the international communities.

The law society has denounced what they call a “fraud” regarding the published text.

Condé was on record to say “in other countries there were deaths, but they managed to change their Constitutions”

An Ethiopian airlines plane landed this Wednesday, May 20, on the tarmac at Conakry Gbessia international airport. On board several dozen Chinese, possibly from China.

All of them have disembarked and are currently in discussions with the airport authorities and the health services according to local media source. Temperature measurements are envisaged before probably releasing them.

Speculation is rife on why the Chinese are in Guinea: mining contract workers being the most talked about

This does not sit well with many Guineans suffering unemployment and Covid-19 confinement.

General Nouhou Thiam, a former chief of staff of the Guinean armed forces during the military transition (2009-2010) , died at Donka hospital in Conakry, Guinéenews © learned from sources close to the family without further details. Other sources say he died of illness.

The now late Nouhou Thiam was a former companion of the former president of the Guinean transition, General Sekouba Konaté. He was arrested in the attack on the private residence of President Alpha Condé on July 19, 2011. Tried and sentenced, he was released on March 3, 2016 after 4 years of detention.

Source:Guineenews.org (in French)

Following financial difficulties amid Covid-19 pandemic, Brussels Airlines, the Lufthansa owned company will be halting flights to Conakry.

Source: The Brussels Times

Credit Guineenews Instagram

Camayenne Cité

Guinean president Alpha Condé extends guinea's state of health emergency and announces new measures to combat Covid-19.

In a televised statement, broadcasted tonight on state own television, President Alpha Condé extended "the state of health emergency" in the Republic of Guinea. He also maintained the curfew, which now starts from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. However, the curfew is completely lifted outside the capital Conakry.

On the public gathering, the president said that Guineans can be together now go from 20 to 30 people.

With regard to the measures, he instructed Guinean embassies abroad to take all necessary measures to come to the aid of Guinean families victims of coronavirus.

To Guineans stranded abroad, he instructed diplomats to arrange for them to return to Guinea via humanitarian flights. But, he insisted, everything must be done in strict compliance with the health provisions in the fight against the pandemic.

In the agricultural sector, he called for the government to assist local producers, including the potato industry.

The Head of State paid a moving tribute to the actors involved in the fight against coronavirus in Guinea. It is believed that even though Guinea is among the 5 African countries that will fare better in 2021 according to the International Monetary Fund, the government must be vigilant in its actions

Medecins Sans Frontieres, who spearheaded the Ebola fight in Guinea in 2012 -2014 is sending a team ion Guinea. The national health authority seems to be overwhelmed with political interference and low confidence from the Guinean.

From MSF web site:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending additional resources to support the COVID-19 response in Guinea, one of the countries on the African continent most affected by the virus, with nearly 2,000 confirmed cases. MSF will provide healthcare for patients in Conakry, the Guinean capital.  

At least six people were killed in towns near the capital Conakry as protesters demanded an end to the coronavirus lockdown.

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Source Aljazeera

Predictive Discovery (PDI) has received results from reverse circulation (RC) and air-core (AC) drilling at its Kaninko Project in Guinea.

Source.

After deadly protests against electricity shortage in the mining town of Boké in North western Guinea yesterday resulting in one dead, today protests went to reopen the mosques and forbid the mask wearing shouting : “ there is no Coronavirus here!”

Source: Guineenews (French)

Clashes between protesters and police at the Kénèndé dam in Dubréka prefecture on Tuesday 12 May left one dead and one injured. The information was confirmed by the prefect of Dubréka Younoussa "Le Bon" Sylla, contacted by telephone by Guinéenews.

“There were indeed small misunderstandings at the level of the Kénèndé Mansaya dam. On the side of Dubréka, there was one case of death and one wounded. But the lull has returned and everything is back to normal, "he said on the phone.

It should also be remembered that the same scenario happened between the citizens and the police at the Figuiadi dam, in Coyah prefecture, where at least three people are said to have died.

Source: Guineenews.org

The Guinean president sacks his energy minister due to bloody riots regarding the lack of electricity in the mining rich region of Boke (north west) where industrial activities have halted.

Bah Oury a long time opposition has offered his resignation with the UDD party. Bah Oury was a vocal critic of President Alpha Condé and his predessor.

He was accused in 2011 for "attempted coup" before leaving the country. Subsequently he mended fences with Condé got a "pardon" and become a "presidential advisor" then resigned and try to get the UFDG opposition party back from the popular Cellou Dalein Diallo. He was then coopted by an obscure political party called UDD close to Condé.

He was a vocal opponent to Condé's attempt to change the Constitution so he can becomes president for life.

Translated article in Guineenews.org

Ignoring massive protests, admonitions from ECOWAS leaders, and international criticism, President Alpha Condé pushed through a constitutional referendum in Guinea on March 22. The referendum along with legislative elections were boycotted by opponents on the grounds that it was illegitimate, having been authorized only by the President of the National Assembly, a Condé ally, and not the Parliament, as stipulated by the Constitution. At least 32 protesters were killed by police in the run-up to the polls. Deeming that the electoral process, including a disputed voter registry, fell below the standards for a credible vote, international electoral observers did not participate.

From the Africa Center in Strategic Studies