Guinea's president loth to defend Strauss-Kahn accuser

Guinea’s President Alpha Condé seemed unenthusiastic about defending Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s accuser, Nafissatou Diallo, after press revelations appeared to undermine her credibility. Although Diallo is a Guinean citizen Condé expressed more sympathy for the ex-IMF chief.

AFP/Cellou Diallo

“We are both [himself and Strauss-Kahn] members of the Socialist Party, the French Socialist Party is a member of the Socialist International, so I am very happy for him and I hope his sufferings will not have a lasting effect,” Condé told RFI at the African Union summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, after the latest twist in the sexual assault case.

But he went on to promise to do what he can for Diallo.

“Obviously, the lady is Guinean. It is the duty of the head of state to defend all Guinean citizens. We will see how we can come to her aid, because Guinea has to defend its children wherever they are. We will see how we can help her.”

Residents of the Guinean capital, Conakry, were overwhelmingly sympathetic to their compatriot, when RFI reporters spoke to them.

“This is money at work” … “The poor are always bullied by the privileged” … “They want to turn this girl into a commodity, while she’s a victim” were typical comments.