Sekouba Konate is in Good Health – And No Evacuation is Planned

Sekouba Konate - Not Evacuated

The Senegalese News Agency had reported that President Wade had sent a private Jet to fetch Guinea’s Interim Leader to Senegal. All major international news agencies including but not limited to Newstime Africa and Associated Press International, reported the story which stated that he was being flown to the country for emergency medical treatment. But contrary to these reports Guinea’s Health Minister is saying that Sekouba Konate is in good health, denying media reports he was being evacuated to Senegal for hospital treatment.

Sekouba Konate is seen as key to efforts in ending the crisis in the West African nation that threatens the stability of the region. The Health Minister said “The current acting president Sekouba Konate is not ill, he is in good health. No evacuation to Senegal is planned,” Abdoulaye Cherif Diaby said that the Acting Head of State was heading to Senegal’s capital, Dakar, “for an official visit, but he is not sick. He’s doing well.” Two officials had told The Associated Press that Konate was being taken to Senegal and suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. The contradictory messages comes at a time when some Guineans are questioning whether the country’s wounded junta leader, Capt. Moussa “Dadis” Camara, will ever return to the helm of the mineral-rich nation.

It is reported that when Dadis Camara was declared leader of the 32-member junta in December 2008, Konate who was then head of an elite unit of specially trained commandos did not even appear on the list. Someone who witnessed the event at the main barracks said Konate initially challenged Camara over the presidency, which led to Konate, Camara and a third officer agreeing to draw lots from a mayonnaise jar to settle who would get to be president. Camara won but disputed the mayonnaise-jar story, saying soldiers threatened him and Konate with death unless they agreed to lead the country. Konate was then named vice president, and in a period of one year moved through the military ranks from colonel to general, while Dadis Camara remained a captain

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