**Headline: Labor Dispute Escalates at Guinea Energy Over Unpaid Wages**
**Background**
The ongoing tension between workers and Guinea Energy, a subcontractor under the Chinese company CWE, has reached a critical point in Kouroussa. The dispute centers around unpaid wages related to the Guinea-Mali electrical interconnection project, which aims to enhance rural electrification across the region.
**What Happened**
On July 19, 2025, workers expressed their discontent through their spokesperson, revealing to Guineematin.com that the company has failed to pay them for several months. The workers, frustrated by the lack of payment, have threatened to dismantle the interconnected electrical lines if their demands are not addressed. The project, impacting fourteen sub-prefectures in Kouroussa, has come to a standstill as workers have barricaded site entrances and are demanding the settlement of 30% of their outstanding salaries.
**Implications**
The suspension of work on this crucial infrastructure project could have significant repercussions for the region’s electrification efforts. The workers’ decision to sleep outside as a form of protest underscores the severity of their grievances. The potential dismantling of interconnected lines poses a risk to the project’s progress and could affect future collaborations between local and international companies.
**Official Reactions**
Abdourahamane Bangoura, the workers’ spokesperson, expressed concerns over repeated unfulfilled promises, despite assurances from CWE and the UPG, the state supervisory body. He emphasized that while 70% of the wages were paid, the remaining 30% is still owed. Efforts to contact Moussa Fofana, CEO of Guinea Energy, have been unsuccessful as he is reportedly in Senegal for work. Meanwhile, the workers remain steadfast in their demand for the resolution of their salary arrears.
*Source: guineematin.com*
*Author: 554*
