Political relations

Independent in 1958 after turning down the proposal to join the French Community, Guinea has long shown a certain mistrust of France, and, more widely, of the outside world. Accordingly, the relations between France and Guinea have had their ups and downs. The debate on Iraq in the United Nations in 2003 (Guinea was presiding competently over the Security Council at the time) helped bring the two countries closer together. Similarly, during the consultations with the EU under article 96 of the Cotonou agreement opened in July 2004, the Guineans consulted with us extensively, having understood that we were their best allies on this issue.

For almost six months, a junta has been in power in Guinea. Within 15 days after the coup d’état, France was present in the country (Mr.Joyandet visited this past 3-4 January) to restate our demands (cf. EU declaration of 31 December 2008: organization of elections as soon as possible, the leader of the junta cannot be a candidate in these elections, transition entrusted to a civil government). Our civil and military cooperation is continuing through continuous means.

To date, we are maintaining our positions through the actions conducted by the International Contact Group on Guinea, in which we participate as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as well as through the EU’s actions. Our demands are the same as those of our partners: organization of free and transparent elections as quickly as possible. To this end, it is essential that the junta implement as quickly as possible the election calendar proposed by the dynamic forces coalition of Guinea and approved by the junta.

Updated on 10.07.09