Guinea: New Government Amid Coup

On Sept. 5, 2021, Guinea President Alpha Condé was overthrown in a military coup lead by Col Mamady Doumbouya. The coup resulted in closed borders with neighboring countries and releasing political prisoners. Around 80 political prisoners were released after being detained in the 2020 protests. On September 14, Guinea announced that they were reopening their borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal. 

Military officers held talks with several representatives of various political parties. They aimed to create a timetable for the return of civilian rule, but this was proven difficult as talks were only allocated two hours. They also met with religious leaders, representatives of business, trade unions, diplomats, and civil society groups. However, the country still faces threats of economic sanctions. 

A coup in Guinea means a new “union” government approaching the country. President Alpha Condé is in detention with an uncertain future, however, remains safe. Coup leader Col Mamady Doumbouya is hoping a new government can be formed in the next few weeks. 

President Condé was controversially re-elected for a third time in 2020 during violent protests. Although there had been some economic progress, he has been blamed for harassment and human rights abuses of his critics.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres states that he condemns the takeover, and calls for the release of President Condé. The African Union and regional body Ecowas also condemned the coup. 

Doumbouya, who leads the special forces unit in the army, banned former ministers from leaving the country and ordered their official vehicles to be handed to the military. He reopened land and air borders and stated that a “government of national union will be established to steer the transition.”

Doumbouya and his soldiers seized power to end rampant corruption, human rights abuses, and mismanagement. On Sunday night regional governors were replaced by military commanders.

Exchanges of heavy gunfire occurred close to the presidential building for hours. "They were just happy. Some people undressed and shouted 'Doumbouya, Doumbouya, Doumbouya' and 'freedom, freedom, freedom,'" Alhassan Sillah reported.

Guinea is a top supplier of bauxite which is an important component of aluminum. After the coup, aluminum prices surged due to concerns of low supplies. 

Outside Guinea, the coup has been widely condemned but, in the nation, many support it. They were suspended by the regional bloc from the decision-making bodies of the organization. Leaders of West Africa’s regional bloc imposed travel bans and froze the financial assets of Guinea’s coup leaders and their families. This was done to pressurise the military to go back to constitutional rule. 

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda on Sept. 8, 2021, claims that the takeover was a step backward. He says that the coups in the 1960s were part of Africa’s problems and says this is simply not the solution for the country. On Sept. 10, 2021, the African Union suspended Guinea and condemned the coup.

Doumbouya is the second-youngest leader of an African state being 41-years-old and is a former French legionnaire. Due to this coup, Guinea was suspended from the West African regional bloc Ecowas.

Guinea’s main opposition leader expressed support for the coup, wanting a new beginning. The military junta froze all government-related accounts to secure state assets. West African regional bloc Ecowas visited Mr. Condé finding him in good health and safe.

However, Doumbouya is under increasing diplomatic pressure. Clear plans to return Guinea to the civilian rule are essential to reassure neighboring countries. 

The former industry minister Mr. Kamara was arrested by the new junta on Sunday. His home was ransacked, and he was released hours later. He was accused of violating his neutrality to the military administration. 

Former French legionnaire, Doumbouya, appointed himself as the leader of Guinea after removing the former president. He claims they had no choice but to seize power due to corruption, economic mismanagement, and disregard for human rights under the management of 83-year-old President Alpha Condé. 

Col Doumbouya stated on TV that “we will no longer entrust politics to one man, we will entrust it to the people.” He is promising to form a union government. Some say he is an excellent commander, whilst others say his credentials are suspicious. 

He quoted Jerry Rawlings, a soldier who led a coup in Ghana in 1979, saying “if the people are crushed by their elites, it is up to the army to give the people their freedom.”