Guinea-Bissau Military Chief Accused By The U.S. In A Colombia Dug And Weapons Plot

Guinea-Bissau armed forces chief-of-staff General Antonio Indjai (C) leaves a meeting with the president and the regional body of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the capital Bissau November 7, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney

U.S. Accuses Bissau Military Chief In Colombia Drugs, Weapons Plot -- Reuters

DAKAR (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Guinea-Bissau's top military official of plotting to traffic cocaine to the United States and sell weapons to Colombian rebels, according to court documents seen by Reuters on Thursday.

The accusation against General Antonio Indjai - widely seen as the coup-prone West African nation's most powerful man - is the first official signal that criminality may go straight to the top in what has for years been labeled a 'narco-state'.

Guinea Bissau authorities repeatedly have denied any involvement in drug trafficking and Indjai is believed to be in the country.

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More News On Guinea-Bissau's Military Chief Being Accused By The U.S. In A Colombia Dug And Weapons Plot

Drugs sting misses Bissau army chief : sources -- Reuters
Guinea-Bissau Armed Forces Chief Charged in NYC -- ABC News/AP
U.S. Sting That Snared African Ex-Admiral Shines Light on Drug Trade -- New York Times
Guinea-Bissau army chief charged with aiding FARC -- Washington Times
U.S. charges Guinea-Bissau military chief in plot with missiles, drugs -- CNN
Guinea Bissau: U.S. Charges Guinea-Bissau Coup Leader With Trafficking -- allAfrica.com
DEA Charges Army Chief From "The World's Only Narco State" With Narcoterrorism -- Reason

Africa's Cocaine Hub

Der Spiegel

Africa's Cocaine Hub: Guinea-Bissau a 'Drug Trafficker's Dream' -- Spiegel Online

Guinea-Bissau has become a major hub of cocaine trafficking between Latin America and Europe. But any wealth the West African nation has derived from its middleman status has been offset by increased violence and instability.

João Biague says he only has one way to lose his job: "success." As soon as he manages to seize a shipment of drugs, he admits, "I'll be fired." But "success" is not actually part of the job description of the director general of Guinea-Bissau's judicial police.

Biague has his office in a colonial building slowly turning black from the moisture and humidity. It's located on a dirt street near an athletic field. The potholes are filled with plastic refuse and seashells. A woman is crouching under a ceiba tree and roasting a scrawny ear of corn over a smoldering fire.

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My Comment: A corrupt government. An ideal transit location. Eager workers who are willing to take the risk. Yup .... a perfect place for a drug smuggler.

Did The Cocaine Barons Oust Guinea-Bissau's President Earlier This Year

Leader Ousted, Nation Is Now a Drug Haven -- New York Times

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — When the army ousted the president here just months before his term was to expire, a thirst for power by the officer corps did not fully explain the offensive. But a sizable increase in drug trafficking in this troubled country since the military took over has raised suspicions that the president’s sudden removal was what amounted to a cocaine coup.

The military brass here has long been associated with drug trafficking, but the coup last spring means soldiers now control the drug racket and the country itself, turning Guinea-Bissau in the eyes of some international counternarcotics experts into a nation where illegal drugs are sanctioned at the top.

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My Comment: A small but crucial country that is now (unfortunately) under the influence of the drug trade. This is a problem that is only going to grow with time.

ECOWAS Warns The Military Juntas In Mali And Guinea Bissau

ECOWAS Warn Mali, Bissau Juntas, Prepares Troops -- Reuters

(Reuters) - West African leaders warned military juntas in Mali and Guinea Bissau on Thursday that further defiance of the 15-nation bloc's decisions would not be tolerated but stopped short of deploying troops to both countries.

Meeting in the Senegalese capital for their second extraordinary summit in a week, the heads of state heard that soldiers who seized power in both countries continue to reject proposals put forward for transition to civilian rule.

Soldiers in Mali staged a coup on March 22, precipitating a Tuareg rebellion that has left a third of the country occupied by armed groups with links to al Qaeda.

The coup in Guinea Bissau took place halfway through elections in the former Portuguese colony, which has endured decades of instability since independence in 1974 and become a transit hub for Latin American cocaine.

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Update: W. Africa bloc threatens coup leaders in Mali, G. Bissau -- AFP

My Comment: The problem with these warnings and threats is that the ECOWAS bloc lacks the money and resources to finance such a military engagement.

African Union Suspends Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau Suspended From African Union -- CNN

(CNN) -- Guinea-Bissau has been suspended from the African Union in the wake of last week's military coup.

The suspension remains "until the restoration of constitutional order," the union said Tuesday.

The union cited the "recurrence of illegal and unacceptable interference of the leadership of Guinea-Bissau's army on the politics of the country, creating instability and culture of impunity, which have hampered the development of the country."

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More News On Guinea-Bissau

AU suspends Guinea-Bissau for coup, talks under way -- Reuters
African Union suspends Guinea-Bissau over coup -- FOX News/AP
African Union Suspends Guinea-Bissau -- Voice of America
West Africa: Guinea Bissau - UN, AU, Ecowas Demand Restoration of Constitution -- AllAfrica
AU Says Guinea-Bissau Coup Leaders Violating Constitution -- Voice of America
African Union Peace & Security Council Meeting on Guinea Bissau -- AllAfrica
Guinea-Bissau Coup Leaders Announce Transitional Council -- Voice of America
Guinea-Bissau coup leaders close borders, airport -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Bissau shuts air and sea space, uncertainty grows -- Reuters
Guinea-Bissau military closes airspace as residents flee capital -- The Guardian
Guinea-Bissau junta agrees pact with some parties -- BBC

Political Parties In Guinea-Bissau Reject Military's Plan For An Interim Government

Parties In Guinea-Bissau Reject Military's Plan for Interim Gov’t -- Voice Of America

A group of political parties in Guinea-Bissau have rejected a proposal by the military responsible for this week's coup to form a transitional government until presidential elections later this month.

The parties met with the military Saturday and more talks are expected Sunday. The political parties favor a solution to Guinea Bissau's political upheaval based on its constitution.

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More News On The Coup In Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau political parties meet with military junta to seek solution after coup -- Washington Post/AP
G. Bissau main party rejects transition plan -- Al Jazeera
G. Bissau's main party defies military over coup -- Newsday
Latest unrest in African narcostate of Guinea-Bissau draws international condemnation -- Washington Post/AP
U.S. 'Strongly Condemns' Guinea-Bissau Military Coup -- RTT News
Portuguese leaders condemn Guinea-Bissau coup -- CNN
Q&A: What's going on in Guinea-Bissau? -- Al Jazeera

Guinea-Bissau's Appointed Navy Chief Is A Suspected Drug Lord

US Concern Over G Bissau's 'Drugs Kingpin' Appointment -- BBC

The US has voiced its deep disappointment at Guinea-Bissau's decision to reinstate an alleged drugs kingpin as the head of the navy.

A State Department spokesman said the reinstatement of Rear Adm Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto was "a step backwards" for the West African country.

The US accuses Mr Na Tchuto of playing a key role in international drug trafficking - a claim he denies.

He is a close ally of Gen Antonio Injai, who led an army mutiny in April.

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Update #1: Bissau names suspected drugs baron as navy chief -- Reuters
Update #2: Bubo returns as head of G. Bissau's navy -- AFP

My Comment: Appointments like this one reflect on how corrupt and dysfunctional many government are in Africa .... and a problem that will only get worse when drugs and the drug trade gets involved.

Another Example That Illustrates What Is Wrong In Africa

US Names Two Guinea-Bissau Military Men 'Drug Kingpins' -- BBC

The US has accused two senior military men from Guinea-Bissau of drug running.

Air force head Ibraima Papa Camara and former navy chief Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto have been named "drug kingpins".

Under the Drug Kingpin Act, financial sanctions have been imposed on the two men and US citizens are barred from doing business with them.

Guinea-Bissau is a major transit point for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe, and last week suffered an apparent army coup attempt.

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My Comment: When your leaders .... who are suppose to uphold the law and constitution are themselves breaking it .... the end result will always be corruption and a slow disintegration of authority.

Coup D'Eat Attempt Underway In Guinea-Bissau

Military Briefly Detains, Threatens Guinea-Bissau Prime Minister -- Voice of America

Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau briefly detained the country's prime minister and arrested the army chief of staff Thursday in what appeared to be a coup attempt.

Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior and Army Chief Zamora Induta were both seized and taken to a military base in the capital, Bissau.

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More News On The Coup D'Etat Attempt In Guinea Bissau

Guinea-Bissau prime minister freed after abortive coup -- The Guardian
Situation in Guinea-Bissau under control-president -- Reuters
Guinea-Bissau soldiers arrest PM in coup bid -- Yahoo News/AFP
Military threatens to kill Guinea-Bissau PM -- AFP
Guinea-Bissau leaders held in apparent coup -- BBC
Soldiers detain head of Guinea-Bissau's army -- AP
TIMELINE - Bissau PM detained -- Reuters
FACTBOX-Facts about Guinea-Bissau -- Reuters

The Exploding Drug Trade (And Violence) In West Africa

Ousmane Conte, son of Guinea Conakry's late president Lasante Conte, sits in detention at the gendarmerie headquaters in Conakry, Guinea Conacky, Wednesday, March 11, 2008. When the planes loaded with cocaine arrived, Guinea's presidential guard secured the cargo. Drug deals were conducted inside the first lady's private residence, and the drugs were carried to Europe in the country's diplomatic pouch. In their bid to reach Europe, Latin American drug traffickers have found the broken nations along Africa's West coast, easily corrupting their ruling elite. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In TV Confessions, Curtain Lifted On A Narcostate -- Yahoo News/AP

CONAKRY, Guinea – When the planes arrived loaded with cocaine, it was Guinea's presidential guard that secured the cargo.

Drug deals were conducted inside the first lady's private residence and in the president's VIP salon at the international airport. To avoid detection, cocaine was sent to Europe in the country's diplomatic pouch.

As the people of Guinea sit transfixed before their TV sets, top government officials one after another are confessing to their role in a lucrative international cocaine trade.

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My Comment: I am sure that what we are witnessing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Guinea-Bissau News Updates -- March 5, 2009

Raimundo Pereira, Guinea-Bissau's former parliament speaker who is now the interim president, is required to call elections within two months. (By Rebecca Blackwell -- Associated Press)

Interim Leader Takes Over in Guinea-Bissau -- Washington Post

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau, March 3 -- The speaker of Guinea-Bissau's parliament took the oath of office as president Tuesday, a day after the man who ruled this tiny, coup-prone West African nation for 22 years was gunned down in front of his wife inside their villa.

Lawmakers stood to observe a moment of silence for President João Bernardo Vieira, 69, and his longtime rival, Gen. Batiste Tagmé na Waié, the head of the armed forces.

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More News On Guinea-Bissau

ANALYSIS-Drugs, guns stoke Bissau concerns after killings -- Reuters
Bissau premier asks for funds to ease crisis -- Reuters
New Guinea-Bissau leader on tightrope towards polls -- AFP
Bissau Assassinations Highlight Obstacles to Drug Trafficking Fight -- Voice Of America
Murdered GBissau general found 200 kilos of cocaine: officer -- AFP
Guinea-Bissau president beaten before assassination -- The Telegraph
Mayhem In Guinea-Bissau -- Voice Of America editorial

Guinea-Bissau News Updates -- March 3, 2009

Gone: Renegade soldiers gunned down Guinea-Bissau's President Joao Bernando Vieira on Monday. Jose Manuel Ribeiro/Reuters

Guinea-Bissau Assassinations: Is Colombia's Drug Trade Behind Them? -- Christian Science Monitor

The murder of the president and the Army chief on Monday raises questions about the nature of the instability in this African nation.

Johannesburg, South Africa - The assassinations were committed gangland style – a bomb in a stairwell, and a rapid fire shootout – which is perhaps not so surprising in a country that has swiftly become a major transit hub for narcotics into Europe.

But the tit-for-tat revenge killings of Guinea-Bissau's top two leaders, its Army chief and its president, have left this poor country without leaders and the prospect of continued military rule.

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More News On The Turmoil In Guinea-Bissau

Cocaine cartels corrupt politics of Guinea-Bissau - -Sydney Morning Herald
Bissau to swear in new leader after president killed -- Reuters
Speaker to be Guinea-Bissau head -- AL Jazeera
Bissau to swear in new leader after president killed -- International Herald Tribune
Guinea Bissau assassination 'not a coup': AU -- AFP
History of crisis haunts Guinea-Bissau -- BBC
Envoys concerned over Guinea-Bissau democracy -- AFP

Renegade Soldiers Kill Guinea-Bissau President

Photo: President Joao Bernardo Vieira was trying to escape when he was "taken down by bullets," an military spokesman said. Photo from AFP

From Yahoo News/AP:

BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau – Renegade soldiers assassinated the president of Guinea-Bissau in his palace Monday, hours after a bomb blast killed his rival, but the military said that no coup was in progress in the fragile West African nation.

The military statement broadcast on state radio attributed President Joao Bernardo Vieira's death to an "isolated" group of unidentified soldiers whom the military said it was now hunting down.

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More News On Guinea-Bisseau

President of Guinea-Bissau said to be killed by soldiers -- International Herald Tribune
Guinea-Bissau president assassinated by military: official -- AFP
African Union condemns Guinea-Bissau killings -- Reuters
Roundup: Guinea-Bissau president reportedly killed after army chief slain -- China View
President of Guinea-Bissau assassinated -- CNN
Guinea-Bissau President Assassinated -- AHN
President Joao Bernardo Vieira of Guinea-Bissau assassinated by army -- Times Online
Guinea-Bissau factfile: drugs, guns and slaves -- Times Online
Guinea Bissau: President, Army Chief Assassinated -- All Africa
A look at Guinea-Bissau's history of instability -- AP
Background: Guinea-Bissau -- The Guardian

Guinea-Bissau's Army HQ Destroyed In Attack

Attackers Blow Up Part Of Bissau Armed Forces HQ -- Reuters

BISSAU (Reuters) - Attackers armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked the headquarters of Guinea-Bissau's armed forces on Sunday, destroying part of the building, witnesses said.

A Reuters witness who heard the boom of weapons went to the site and saw part of the armed forces headquarters had collapsed.

Army troops encircled the area and were searching for the assailants, whose identity was unclear. Five wounded people were taken to hospital, the Reuters witness said.

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More News On The Attack In Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau army chief 'killed' -- BBC
Guinea-Bissau: explosion at army headquarters -- AP
Bombing kills chief of staff in Guinea-Bissau: aide -- AFP
Bomb rocks Guinea-Bissau military HQ -- iFocus
Bissau armed forces chief killed in attack -- TVNZ