Thursday, November 15, 2012

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CONDEMNS MURDER OF GUINEAN MINISTRY OF FINANCE TREASURY DIRECTOR AISSATOU BOIRO

Guinea Map Credit:  CIA World Factbook.
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Condemning the Murder of Treasury Director Ms. Aissatou Boiro

Press Statement
Mark C. Toner
Deputy Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
November 14, 2012

On November 9, Ministry of Finance Treasury Director Aissatou Boiro was murdered by unidentified gunmen in Conakry. We deplore this act and all forms of violence against public servants and innocent citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Boiro’s family and the people of Guinea.

Ms. Boiro was a strong advocate of transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption within the Ministry of Finance. Senior Guinean Government officials have stated publicly that this was a targeted killing, and the Government of Guinea has pledged to make a full investigation.

We urge the Government of Guinea to investigate this heinous crime and hold accountable those responsible for Ms. Boiro’s murder. The United States will continue to work with the Government of Guinea to combat corruption in all its forms.

 
Guinea Locator Map Credit:  CIA World Factbook.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls were marred by irregularities. History repeated itself in December 2008 when following President CONTE's death, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution. His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by General Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and fair elections since independence.

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