Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara and his chief rival Aboubacar Toumba Diakite, head of the presidential guard, who is blamed for his injuries. His health condition is reported to be very serious in Morocco.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Uncertainty trails Guinean leader's health position
Courtesy of the Nigerian Guardian
CONTROVERSY yesterday continued to trail the true position of Guinea's military strongman, Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara,'s health after an assassination attempt by a section of his presidential guards.
Airlifted to a hospital in Morocco for operation after being wounded in the assassination attempt, two top government officials yesterday said Camara "cannot speak and may not be returning home anytime soon."
But doctors treating him in Morocco claimed that the Guinea's military leader is in a "favourable" condition after surgery.
The commander of the presidential guard who allegedly shot Camara on Thursday is on the run. Gunfire broke out Sunday evening after state TV announced a toll-free number where citizens could call if they had information about Abubakar "Toumba" Diakite's whereabouts. Presidential guards searched passing cars as the junta launched a nationwide manhunt for him.
Communications Minister, Idrissa Cherif, said he does not know if "the boss will come back Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - or when," contradicting Guinea media reports that said the leader is due back shortly. Cherif said Camara's return "is up to his doctors."
He continued to insist Camara "is doing well" and has resumed his official functions from his hospital room in a Moroccan military hospital in Rabat.
But Guinean Foreign Minister Alexandre Cece Loua told France's RFI radio yesterday that "Camara cannot speak."
"I saw President Dadis Camara. He recognises his entourage," Loua said from Rabat. "He cannot yet communicate."
Loua would not say when Camara could return to Guinea, saying: "His condition is evolving ... which makes me say that he could address the nation."
The comments inject further uncertainty into the country which is facing a dangerous power vacuum.
Gen. Sekouba Konate, the vice president of the military junta, rushed back to Guinea's capital from overseas to take charge following the assassination attempt.
Since coming to power in a military-led coup last December, Camara has adored the spotlight and his five-hour-long tirades in front of various journalists were broadcast as mini-serials on state TV, where they were dubbed the "Dadis Show." Diplomats and experts on the country believe that if he was not gravely ill, he would have immediately gone on the radio to announce that he was well in an effort to extinguish potential coup plots.
Camara himself came to power in a coup last December, hours after longtime dictator, Lansana Conte, died.
Coup leaders promised to organise elections and hand over power to civilians within one year, but Camara quickly reversed the course.
In September, the presidential guard opened fire on unarmed demonstrators who had gathered to demand that Camara step aside, killing no fewer than 157.
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