Pope Praises Guinea’s Moves to Civilian Rule
Pope John Paul II on Monday praised this country’s cautious moves toward freedom after one of Africa’s most brutal dictatorships had produced what he called a “valley of tears.”
Soldiers armed with automatic weapons lined the dusty streets of this capital of 700,000 as the Pope arrived from Gambia. Tens of thousands of spectators stood under a sweltering sun as he drove by.
Nine days ago, demonstrators ambushed the car of the military president, Col. Lansana Conte, and threw a firebomb. He narrowly escaped.
The late President Sekou Toure, a Marxist, ruled Guinea from its independence from France until his death in 1984, and more than 50,000 people were killed during his regime.
Hundreds of thousands emigrated, and the Roman Catholic Church was severely repressed, its property seized and its leading bishop jailed.
Conte, who took power after Toure’s death, has promised to return the government to civilians. But he has been accused by Amnesty International of detaining and torturing suspected political opponents.
“Unfortunately, the recent history of Guinea demonstrates that a happy land can temporarily be transformed into a valley of tears,” the Pope said. “However, Mr. President, you have known how to undertake with wisdom and vigor a courageous work of national reconstruction, despite numerous difficulties. Room for freedom has been established.”
The Pope is on a weeklong tour of the predominantly Muslim nations of Senegal, Gambia and Guinea. He plans to return to Rome today.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
