Ecowas Suspends Guinea Over Coup

The West African regional economic grouping Ecowas has suspended Guinea from its midst over a coup in which the country’s military seized power after the death of President Lansana Conte in December. Guinea’s fate was sealed at a special Ecowas forum in Abuja on 10 January. Ecowas wants Guinea’s new military junta to establish of a transitional body with civilian and military members that will organize transparent elections and return the country to constitutional rule within 2009. On December 29, 2008, the African Union was first to suspend Guinea over the coup.[PE]