The military regime in Guinea, which seized power over two years ago, has announced the dissolution of the interim government in the West African nation, declaring plans to appoint a new administration.
In a late-night video statement released on Monday, military leaders stated that the directors of cabinet, secretary generals, and their deputies would assume control until a new government is established. The existing interim government had been in office since July 2022.
Amara Camara, the presidency’s secretary-general, appeared alongside other military officials and armed, masked soldiers in the pre-recorded video to deliver the unexpected announcement. However, Camara did not provide a specific reason for the dissolution, leaving uncertainty about its immediate impact on the country and the composition of the new government.
The military’s seizure of power occurred in a coup in September 2021, following the ousting of Guinea’s first democratically elected president, Alpha Conde.
Under pressure from the international community, military leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya had pledged to return government control to elected civilians by the end of 2024.
The coup was spearheaded by the country’s special forces amid a period of heightened political tension triggered by Conde’s contentious bid for a third presidential term in 2020.
Conde’s pursuit of a third term came after he successfully pushed through a new constitution in March 2020, enabling him to bypass the country’s two-term presidential limit and seek reelection.
The move sparked widespread protests, leading to violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces, resulting in numerous fatalities and hundreds of arrests.
Furthermore, the government detained several prominent opposition figures, accusing them of instigating and participating in electoral violence in Guinea.
