Guinea’s transition to democracy truncated by military junta

Guinea’s ruling military junta has dissolved the country’s interim government and ordered government members’ passports to be seized and their bank accounts frozen.

Persecondnews reports that the Presidency’s Secretary General, Amara Camara, decreed the dissolution of the government, which has been in office since July 2022.

The junta’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, ordered on national TV that accounts should be frozen, travel documents taken away, and their service vehicles, bodyguards, and assistants be sacked.

As of the time of reporting, no official reason has yet been given publicly for the measures.

The junta in Guinea, like many of those who have seized power in West Africa since 2020, has put fighting corruption at the forefront of its agenda.

Public broadcaster RTG ran a three-minute tribute to junta leader, Col. Mamady Doumbouya, stating he was “reaffirming his leadership and proving that he remains the sole master.”.

The broadcast spoke of “moments of adversity” without specifying further.

Tensions have been recently reported between members of the government, and at the beginning of this month, the capital, Conakry, witnessed a rare protest.

The junta banned all demonstrations in 2022 and has arrested a number of opposition leaders, civil society members, and the press.

Internet access has been restricted for several weeks.

Under international pressure, Doumbouya has promised to hand the reins of government back to elected civilians by the end of 2024.