/ 14 September 2000

GUINEA ACCUSED OF BEATING, RAPING REFUGEES

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday accused Guinea’s government of inciting mob violence in Conakry against Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees, whom authorities have accused of fuelling a rebellion. “The mobs drove refugees out of their houses, frequently beating, raping, and sexually abusing them. The attackers wielded sticks, rocks, iron bars, electric cords and knives,” according to interviews conducted by Human Rights Watch with 40 victims. The organisation said 10 women among the victims interviewed were raped, “seven of whom were gang-raped.” One of the rape victims was a 14-year-old girl and another was a mother with a three-month-old baby. The New York-based organisation also confirmed at least one case of a man who died while in detention, the statement said.