Guinea: Nigeria, ECOWAS, AU insist on restoration of democracy

 Guinea: Nigeria, ECOWAS, AU insist on restoration of democracy

 

Nigeria on Sunday strongly condemned the military takeover in Guinea.

The Federal Government called on those behind the military takeover to restore constitutional order without delay.

A statement by Esther Sunsuwa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The Nigerian Government is saddened by the apparent coup d’état that has taken place in the Republic of Guinea today, in clear violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

“The Government of Nigeria strongly condemns and rejects any unconstitutional change of government and therefore calls on those behind this coup to restore constitutional order without delay and protect all lives and property.”

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday demanded a return to constitutional order in Guinea and threatened to impose sanctions after special forces soldiers apparently ousted long-serving President Alpha Conde.

A statement by ECOWAS chairman, Ghana’s President Nana Akuffo-Addo, condemned what it called “an attempted coup,” and demanded the immediate and unconditional liberation of Conde, who was detained by the soldiers.

The African Union (AU) bloc also condemned the military takeover and demanded the immediate liberation of President Alpha Conde.

A statement by AU chairman and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat called on the body’s Peace and Security Council to meet urgently to examine the situation and take appropriate measures.

Army Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized control of state television and declared an end to President Alpha Conde’s government. He announced the closure of the West African nation’s borders.

The announcement came after hours of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace.

 

After seizing the airwaves, the mutinous Guinean soldiers vowed to restore democracy. They name themselves National Committee of Gathering and Development.

Conde’s whereabouts were not immediately known. Col. Doumbouya, in his broadcast, made no mention of the 83-year-old president, whose popularity plummeted since he won a third term in office last year.

“The personalisation of political life is over. We will no longer entrust politics to one man; we will entrust it to the people,” Doumbouya said, adding that the constitution would also be dissolved and borders closed for one week.

Doumbouya, who has headed a special forces unit in the military, said he was acting in the best interests of the nation of over 12.7 million people.

“The duty of a soldier is to save the country,” he said.

Heavy gunfire had erupted early yesterday near the presidential palace in the capital of Conakry and went on for hours.

But, the Defence Ministry later claimed that the attack had been repelled, but uncertainty grew when there was no sign of Conde on state television or radio.

Recent events in Mali saw the second intervention by the army there in less than a year.

In neighbouring Niger, a coup was thwarted in March just days before the presidential inauguration.