A unity government for a period of transition, respect for economic commitments with partners and no “witch hunt” against the previous executive of Guinea: these are the promises of Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who led the coup d’état with to which President Alpha Condé, currently in prison, was deposed.
“A consultation will be launched to define the general parameters of the transition, then the government of national union will be established with the aim of guiding the transition,” added Doumbouya, however not clarifying the duration of this consultation or the handover. The coup leader also assured the “economic and financial partners that activities in the country continue normally”. “The committee (set up by the military junta) reassures the partners that it will respect all its commitments,” he added.
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During the day, the head of the special forces leading the coup announced the reopening of air connections and reopened borders, but restrictions were imposed on the travel of government officials and representatives of the deposed government. On Monday morning, the military ordered the country’s government ministers to take part in a meeting, specifying that those absent would be considered rebels: they stated this in a statement made on state television and cited by the BBC. After the meeting, government officials were then escorted by soldiers to the army unit headquarters, while regional governors were replaced by military commanders.
Raise the price of bauxite
Meanwhile, one effect of the coup was the increase in the price of bauxite. Guinea is the country that holds the largest reserves in the world of the ore used to produce aluminum. The coup and related uncertainties about the immediate future sent metal prices skyrocketing to a 10-year high on Monday amid fears of further supply disruptions in the downstream market. There was still no indication of such a break.
Conde in prison, international protests
83-year-old Condé, re-elected last year for a controversial third term amid violent protests, remains in jail but safe, according to soldiers. The UN, the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) have condemned the coup in Guinea and demanded the return of the civilian government. António Guterres, UN secretary general, also asked in a tweet for “the immediate release of President Alpha Condé”. The military announced the dissolution of the Constitution, the closure of borders and a national curfew.