Guinea’s power politics

Veolia’s management contract with Electricité de Guinée (EdG) revives hopes for an end to the power supply problems that have dogged Guinea for decades. But in the process, the French company will have to tackle one of the country’s biggest systems of fraud and embezzlement.President Alpha Condé, who makes no secret of his lack of confidence in Guineans’ ability to manage strategic sectors, was closely involved in negotiation of the contract, whose success is important both for energy-starved Guineans and for his chances of re-election in October