Youths pledge continued demonstrations until lights come on

Sporadic youth-led demonstrations have rocked blacked-out neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Guinea’s capital Conakry during the past week. Altogether, hundreds of youths have demonstrated in near-darkness, lit only by dozens of burning vehicles, against the state-run Electricity of Guinea (EDG), the country’s sole electricity source.

On the evenings of 08 and 09 September, demonstrators set up barricades in Hamdallaye I, Bambeto and Cosa, neighbourhoods that have not had regular electricity for three months.

Deputy chief Kandas Conde with government mobile security unit said some youths were briefly detained, then released, during the most recent demonstrations. “We released them in order to avoid public outcry.” Security forces at the demonstrations dispersed the youths with tear gas.

One youth from Cosa, who chose to remain anonymous, said he believed the cuts are intentional.“We cannot understand how during this rainy season we can be deprived of water [available through electric water pumps] and light. This is an affront to residents here. Whereas in Kaloum, in downtown Conakry, there is electricity 24 hours a day. We will continue to protest until Electricity of Guinea gives us light.”

He said supporters of the presidential ruling Party of Unity and Progress mostly live downtown whereas activists from the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea are concentrated in the blacked-out sections of town.

But the state electricity company’s director general, Sekou Sandfina Diakite, told IRIN the cuts are simply because Conakry’s electricity demand has outstripped available supply. “Conakry needs about 200 megawatts of energy whereas EDG can only supply 120 megawatts.”

Another EDG official, Abdoulaye Camara, says 2,000 litres of oil are needed every hour to keep two of the main generators running. “It is impossible for EDG to keep up operations with recent oil price increases.”

Electricity problems were one of main grievances of demonstrators during weeks-long deadly strikes during early 2007 in Guinea that shuttered businesses and claimed more than 100 lives.

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