MORE than 50 Catholic priests expelled from Guinea by the Government of Guinea have arrived at Monrovia, capital of Liberia, in a caravan of jeeps, trucks and buses. The total number involved in the expulsion on the orders of President Sekou Toure is still unknown.
President Toure, who has repeatedly called for "complete Africanisation" of Christianity in Guinea, in a speech on May Day, set June 1 as the deadline for the removal of non-Africans from all positions of leadership in Christian Churches. He called the foreign missionaries "apprentice spies."
According to a report from Upper Volta, some of the expelled missionaries may be replaced by native Africans— though not necessarily Guinean —priests and nuns. The report said that Upper Volta had sent five priests and a group of nuns into Guinea. Five more priests are expected to follow.
So far, no Protestants have been reported evpelled, but all non-African Christian missionaries will probably be forced to leave.