Guinea's president dismisses 173 soldiers, including coup ally, for desertion

Guinea's president dismisses 173 soldiers, including coup ally, for desertion

Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya has dismissed 173 military personnel for alleged desertion, a move that has drawn attention due to the inclusion of a colonel who helped him seize power in the 2021 coup.

Colonel Michel Lamah, a member of the Special Forces Group (GFS), the elite army unit once commanded by Doumbouya, was among those dismissed, as reported by the BBC and AllAfrica. The dismissals were announced in a decree read on state television by Gen Amara Camara, the president's spokesman, on Monday, according to the BBC and The Namibian.

The official reason given was desertion, but no details were provided about the circumstances of the alleged desertions of the 173 military personnel, as reported by the BBC. The personnel came from various branches of the military.

The dismissals are thought to be part of ongoing efforts by Doumbouya to consolidate his control and prevent potential challenges to his leadership, according to the BBC and AllAfrica. This interpretation comes amid a backdrop of Doumbouya having broken his promise to restore civilian rule.

Doumbouya came to power in September 2021 when he overthrew President Alpha Condé, a coup that involved troops storming the presidential palace and arresting Condé, who had been re-elected the year before for a controversial third term amid violent protests, as detailed by The Namibian.

Initially, Doumbouya said he would not seek election and would hand over to civilian rule. However, he later reneged on that promise and stood in December's presidential election, which he won with a landslide, receiving 87% of the vote, as reported by the BBC and AllAfrica.

Colonel Lamah drew public attention during the coup when he was photographed in a vehicle carrying deposed President Condé, a detail reported by The Namibian.

Crackdown on civil liberties

Since the coup, Guinea has seen a crackdown on many civil liberties, according to AllAfrica and The Namibian. Media outlets have been shut down, protests have been banned, and some political parties have been suspended, while activists and opposition figures have been arrested or exiled, as reported by The Namibian.

Two of Guinea's biggest opposition parties – RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG – were excluded from last year's election, according to The Namibian. AllAfrica notes that Doumbouya's government has faced criticism over these restrictions, including bans on protests, media closures, and the targeting of opposition figures, though no specific critics were named.

Economic ambitions

Over the last five years, Doumbouya has focused on transforming Guinea, a country rich in mineral resources, from a supplier of raw materials to an industrial processing hub, as reported by AllAfrica and The Namibian.