Guinea’s ruling government announced on Tuesday evening that it would suspend membership of the Organization for the Development of Senegal Rivers (OMVS), which includes the four West African countries through which the river flows because of the organization is not taking into account its strategic interests“.
OMVS, founded in 1972, covers Guinea, Senegal, Mali and Mauritania. Since its inception, it has implemented a number of hydroelectric and agricultural projects in the member states that share the Senegal River, which originates in the territory of Guinea.
In a press release published Tuesday night, Conakry “has decided, as of today, July 18, 2023, to discontinue participation in OMVS,” following a conference of heads of state and government. government “hosted virtual” on the same day.
“The highest authorities of Guinea have noted with regret that the strategic concerns and interests of Guinea’s participation in the OMVS have not always been taken into account by the said organization since its inception.” , press release signed by the spokesman for the Guinean presidency, general Amara Camara.
The President of Guinea, protested the “significant delay in funding the Koukoutamba hydroelectric dam, in the Tougué sub-district, Labé region (north)”. She also notes that she is “underrepresented in the decision-making bodies of OMVS”, which is headquartered in Dakar.
Conakry claims to have “take the lead in the creation and defense of a number of regional organizations” since independence from France in 1958. As a result, “it aspires to be respected in the institutions to which it belongs” “, the statement continued.
Guinea became the fourth member of the OMVS when, in 2006, it joined the organization, then made up of Senegal, Mauritania and Mali. As of 2021, the country is ruled by a government that took power in a coup. The military under international pressure has agreed to hand over power to elected civilians by the end of 2024.
