Pray for Guinea

Background info: Mercy Ships are planning to visit Guinea for their field service in 2010 (although obviously won't if it is unstable). It neighbours Liberia and Sierra Leone - two of the poorest countries in the world and in no need of regional instability!

From the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7796902.stm):

"A Guinea army statement has announced the dissolution of the government, after President Lansana Conte's death.

... A BBC correspondent in the capital Conakry says tanks have been seen on the streets...

...He announced earlier that President Conte, who ruled the West African country with an iron fist for 24 years, had died on Monday night after a "long illness". Forty days of national mourning have been declared...

...Guinea's neighbours - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast - are enjoying relative stability after years of conflict and there are fears any unrest there could spread and embroil the sub-region in fighting once more...

...Although Guinea's mineral wealth makes it potentially one of Africa's richest countries, its population of about 10 million is among the poorest in the region."