Guinea Coup: Military Junta Willing To See To Condé’s Release – Akufo-Addo

Chairman for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nana Akufo-Addo says military leaders in Guinea have expressed their commitment towards releasing ousted President Alpha Condé.

 

According to him, the junta is cooperating with the sub-regional body to ensure the directives agreed at the meeting in Accra last week, are met.

West African leaders convened in Ghana’s capital to deliberate on the way forward following the coup d’etat.

 

 

On September 5, the Special Forces in Guinea under the command of Doumbouya arrested and detained President Condé over concerns about poverty and corruption, and because he was serving a third term after suppressing opposition to amend the constitution in that regard.

 

 

But ECOWAS at its Extraordinary meeting on September 16, called for the unconditional release of Condé and restoration of Guinea to constitutional rule within six months.

Speaking at the 76th UN General Meeting in the US, President Akufo-Addo revealed that the military leaders have pledged to comply with the directives.

“The military leaders indicated their willingness to see to his imminent release. And it is our hope that they’ll keep to their word,” he said.

He said this was the feedback he got during his trip to Conakry where he met junta leaders on September 17 after the summit.

The now-ousted President Condé, in October, 2020, won a controversial third term after pushing through a new constitution in March, 2020, which allowed him to sidestep the country’s two-term limit.

The 82-year-old’s bid for a third term was condemned by the opposition and described as an abuse of power.