The country’s main fuel storage site, located in the Coronthie district, in the city center of the capital, exploded a hundred days ago, on March 28, for reasons that remain unclear. The most seriously affected victims were in the streets to denounce the lack of assistance from the Guinean authorities.
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It was shortly before dawn that several women victims of the explosion of the hydrocarbon depot from Coronthie protested and set up barricades in Kaloum, the city center of Conakry. A demonstration brutally repressed by the police with tear gas and arrests, according to the local press.
These victims, who represent around 150 households, denounced the inaction of the State, affirming that no support measures have been put in place to rehouse them. They explain that they have been sleeping under the stars since the drama or with family in the upper suburbs, which encourages unemployment and dropping out of school.
The president of the disaster committee, Mamoudou Cifo Kè Touré, also points out that the victims never benefited from the donations intended for them:
The State is not moving. It’s only when he hears that people are demonstrating to demand their rights that he takes out a few bags of rice “wait, we’ll share”. However, there was national and international solidarity where people from all sides donated bags of rice, clothes, cement, wood and large sums of money. But everything that passed through the State, we received nothing! The State sends neither its share nor what others have given. And meanwhile, people sleep under the stars. This is what revolts them!
The concern of the victims continues to increase as the rainy season approaches.
Despite several attempts, RFI was unable to contact the Guinean government for a response.