Posted in: 23/04/2022 – 12:14Last updated: 23/04/2022 – 12:12
Conakry (AFP) – Former Guinean President Alpha Conde, who led the country for nearly 11 years, has become “free” to move around and receive his relatives, announced Friday evening the military group that ousted him on September 5.
An official statement published on Friday evening stated that the leader of the putschists, Lieutenant Colonel Mamadi Domboya, “informs the public opinion in the country and the world that the former President of the Republic (Conde) has become free once and for all.”
“While he continues to enjoy the necessary protection, (Conde) will be able to receive members of his biological or political family, friends or relatives upon his request,” the statement added.
Conde will remain “in his wife’s present home (in Conakry) until the completion of his own house” in Kebbi, a suburb of the capital.
The statement stressed that Colonel Domboya “assures the people of Guinea and the international community that the dignity and integrity of Professor Alpha Condé will always be safeguarded.”
The former president’s party, the Rally of the Guinean People, recently complained about the former president’s “ambiguity” and denounced the restriction of his movements and the detention of several of his officials, including the last Prime Minister Kasuri Fofana and former ministers.
On 15 April, the Guinean People’s Assembly renewed its “demand for the full and unconditional release of President” Conde and announced its refusal to participate in national meetings from 22 March until 29 April at the initiative of the ruling military junta, as well as any political dialogue, referring to on her protest.
Colonel Mamadi Domboya seized power on September 5, 2021 and overthrew the octogenarian President Alpha Conde, who had been in power since late 2010 and the last years of his term were marked by the brutal suppression of the opposition.
Since then, Domboya assumed the presidency and pledged to return power to elected civilians, without specifying any date for this.
Conde went to the United Arab Emirates in January for medical treatment and returned to Guinea on April 9.
The coup is the last leg of a very volatile history in this country, which has had successive authoritarian and dictatorial regimes since its independence in 1958, and witnessed many violent acts carried out by its armed forces.
© 2022 AFP