2023-07-19 14:43:46
Through a press release published yesterday on state media, the Guinean authorities announced the suspension of the country’s participation in the Organization for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS). At the microphone of our colleagues from Espace Tv, Prime Minister Dr. Bernard Goumou tried to explain the reasons for this decision.
In his explanations, the Head of Government indicated that at the end of the 19th ordinary session of the heads of state or government of the organization for the development of the Senegal River, the highest Guinean authorities observed with «regret» that the concerns and strategic interests of Guinea were not always taken into account. For Bernard Goumou, the reasons are among others: the considerable delay in the financing of the Koukoutamba hydroelectric dam in the prefecture of Tougué region of Labé and also the “underrepresentative” of the country within the decision-making bodies of the OMVS.
Referring to the motivations for the decision taken by the Guinean junta, Dr. Bernard Goumou hinted that: “The denial of any access by Guinean executives to decision-making bodies and the delay in financing the Koukoutamba hydroelectric dam. Normally we have a post of High High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and a Secretary General, but today when you take the organization, in the management of the 4 companies of the OMVS, there is no Guinean who manages over there. In these companies, Guinea had requested its participation and since the request to our days, our country has not had satisfaction. And if on this Senegal river there are 3 dams two in Mali, one in Senegal but the largest dam was to be the Koukoutamba dam and this organization is struggling to complete the financing. In the highest decision-making institutions of this organization, Guinea has no say. Within this organization there are regarding a hundred people and Guinea has only 6 people of these employees. We think that the organization does not do enough, we contribute to this organization at the same level as the others. So, we cannot think that Guinea, where the river has its source, is not taken into account.
Asked whether Guinea has lobbied for positions of responsibility within this institution, Dr. Bernard Gomou responds: “The Minister of Foreign Affairs has lobbied some of our executives who should take part in the highest authorities, moreover normally the post of Deputy High Commissioner returned automatically to Guinea but unfortunately to the conference of heads of ‘states this organization wants to delete this post. So Guinea’s candidacy for this position has been postponed (…). In the future days we will see clearly to make a decision so that the koukoutamba project becomes a reality.
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