Guinea-Conakry: Colonel Mamady Doumbouya announces the seizure of power

After several hours of confusion, men-at-arms commanded by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, a former legionnaire of the French army, announced on Guinean national television and radio that they had taken over the presidential guard in Kaloum in the capital of the Guinea Conakry.

“We decided, after seeing the President – who is with us – to dissolve the current constitution, dissolve the government and close the land and air borders,” said Mamady Doumbouya.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, head of the Special Forces Group (GPS), an elite unit of the army both trained and equipped, justified this political turnaround by “the dysfunction of republican institutions”, “the instrumentalization of justice ”and“ the trampling of citizens’ rights ”.

He invited the whole army to unity “in order to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Guinean people”.

He asked that the elements of the army remain in the barracks and continue with their daily tasks.

As a reminder, last May, rumors even reported a possible arrest of Mamady Doumbouya in Conakry.

Alpha Condé has been President of Guinea since December 2010. He was re-elected twice in 2015 and 2020.

He chaired the African Union from January 2017 to January 2018.