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Guinea: Mining closed, Senegal yes to Camara, SouthAfrica says no

by SOLARLIFE | December 27, 2008 at 09:55 am

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Senegal yes to Camara; SouthAfrica says no

Senegals president Wade 80 years, but fit like 60 , a balanced power president familiar with African habits asked world leaders to recognise Guinea's council with president interim Camara, South Africa still opposed to the Idea

Camara saying no intentions for presidential candidate ?

"I do not have the ambition of being a candidate at the presidential elections," Capt. Camara said in comments broadcast by Radio France International."I have never had the ambition of power."

Mining targeted for Cash to country Mining closed untill new fair contracts negotiated Offical statement President Camaro government website: "Convaincu que la Guinée est un scandale géologique qui n’a jamais profité aux pauvres populations guinéennes, le nouveau Président Dadis Camara a, solennellement annoncé la renégociation des contrats miniers.

"On a bloqué le secteur minier. Il y aura une renégociation des contrats. Les zones aurifères, la décision est déjà prise : plus d'extraction jusqu'à nouvel ordr", a t-il expliqué. "

Mining operations have not immediately been affected but analysts say foreign commodities firms may be targeted as sources of cash by the new rulers.

RIO TINTO, mining bauxite for Coke cans

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International firms including Rio Tinto, Alcoa and United Company Rusal dig bauxite, the raw material for aluminium, in the former French colony. Until earlier this month, Rio planned to spend $6 billion on the Simandou iron ore project, but postponed work as part of a cost-cutting scheme. A firm owned by Israeli diamond dealer Beny Steinmetz has since said it has obtained the rights to a section of the concession

Mail&Guardian Africa: Wade Senegal

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade called on the international community Friday to recognise the military junta, in a press conference held during a visit to Paris. "I think that this group of soldiers deserves to be backed," Wade told reporters at Senegal's embassy in Paris, shortly after talking to Camara by telephone.

Wade, a key African ally of Guinea's former colonial power France, is the first head of state to come out in support of the coup, which has been roundly condemned by the European Union, the United States and the African Union.

The coup has met with widespread international criticism, particularly of Camara's decision to rule out elections for at least two years.

South Africa joined the international condemnation, as President Kgalema Motlanthe called on the junta to immediately step down and hand power to the national assembly speaker as required by the Constitution.