Michel Kamano, President of the Economic and Social Council of Guinea, on advising a junta

Mariek de Valk

Guinea in West Africa is rich in minerals, but it is one of the poorest nations on earth. The country is ruled by a military junta; there is no parliament. But there is an Economic and Social Council. Its president, Michel Kamano, talks about the special ties between trade unions and political parties.

Guinea’s recent history is a succession of coups and brutally suppressed revolts. The most recent bloodbath took place shortly after this interview, when soldiers killed more than 150 people and wounded a further 1200. The victims were demonstrators who had gathered in a football stadium to protest against Guinea’s military ruler. The United Nations has launched a probe into the massacre. Bloodbaths such as this one are no rarity in Guinean history. The Economic and Social Council of Guinea does its work in exceptionally difficult circumstances, says its president, Michel Kamano.

What is the purpose of Guinea’s Economic and Social Council?
‘When the ESC was set up in 1997, I was the minister of Economic Planning and International Cooperation. I was asked to be the president of the council. The idea was to give civil society an independent, advisory voice in government policy. One of our most important tasks is to help think of ways to combat poverty.’

What is the position of the labour movement?
‘The labour movement has a special position in our country, because the trade unions represent the freedom that we gained when we became independent of France in 1958. Trade unions were banned during the colonial era. They are very important, because they are the best representatives of civil society. In 2006, they organised two nation-wide strikes in protest against the government’s policy. Guinea is one of the poorest countries on earth, even though we have half of the world’s bauxite reserves as well as rich gold, diamond and iron ore deposits. Almost all bauxite operations are in private hands; 85 percent of the revenues go to foreign companies. The trade unions object to this and they hold the government and the business community responsible.’

Why is Guinea doing so badly?
‘It’s gone from bad to worse since 1958; the people have descended further and further into poverty. When President Sékou Touré died in 1984 and the army took over power, the people supported the coup d’état. Things got better for a few years, but the country once again slid down into poverty starting in 1989. Things were worse than in 1984, and there was corruption: the government only awarded certain groups contracts to exploit the mines. The unions objected to that and called strikes.’

What issues has the Economic and Social Council advised on?
‘One of the council’s first advisory reports had to do with the presidential elections. We proposed introducing a more transparent procedure supervised by an independent national election committee. That advice was adopted. Unfortunately, then-president Lansana Conté quickly amended the constitution right before the 2004 elections.’

How was that decision received?
‘The unions and political parties were furious. It brought them together in a new alliance that then organised another nation-wide strike. Everyone joined in, because the people were also against the amendment. But it had little effect, and the country continued to grow poorer. There was another nation-wide strike in 2007, but it was ruthlessly put down. More than 150 young people were murdered and about a thousand people wounded.’

And how are things now?
‘Conté died in 2008. Shortly after his death, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in a bloodless military coup. His first act was to disband parliament and the Economic and Social Council temporarily because he wanted to restore order. He then arrested drugs dealers and army leaders and tackled corruption. After three months, political parties were permitted again and the ESC was restored. There is still no parliament at the moment, but there is a special committee that will prepare the 2010 parliamentary elections. Only after the new parliament has been installed will presidential elections be held.’

What can an economic and social council do in a country as unstable as Guinea?
‘We advise on all kinds of fundamental issues. The most important of these is good governance. Our country must be better governed. We should be wealthy, with all our mines. We also want to push for higher wages for employees and an end to corruption. And we want to make it easier for people to set up their own business.’ 

Social and Economic Councils Worldwide Social and economic councils and similar institutions are active around the world. The councils that operate in Europe consult one another regularly. Furthermore, there is a worldwide federation of social and economic councils, known as the AICESIS. Its aim is to promote the exchange of experience between councils worldwide and to encourage the establishment of social and economic councils in other countries. How do all these different councils work? Part 4:  The Economic and Social Council of Guinea (2009).