Nrmalcy returns to coup-hit Conakry in Guinea; junta frees political prisoners

CONAKRY— Days after Sunday’s coup that overthrew President Alpha Conde, Guineans in the capital were trying to get back to their normal lives.

Customers and sellers packed a market in Conakry, where one of the main topics of conversation was the political crisis in the West African country.

“We have been suffering in the past government,” said Fatmata Diallo, who sells cow milk, adding “We are so happy for this change.”

Many hoped that Guinea’s landmark 2010 election would finally give the West African country a democratic leader after decades of corrupt dictatorship.

Instead, Conde decided to stick around for a third term, modifying the constitution so that the term limit no longer applied to him.

His plan to extend his rule prompted violent street protests in Conakry last year and ultimately sealed Conde’s fate as vulnerable to the kind of military coup that many hoped was becoming a thing of the past.

Jubilant Guineans were celebrating the change in the streets, but the real test could be whether forces loyal to the ousted president accept the coup led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.

The new military leaders are seeking to tighten their grip on power and are ordering the deposed president’s soldiers to join them.

Doumbouya also barred government officials from leaving the country, ordering them to hand over their passports and government vehicles.

Guinea’s governors have been replaced by regional military commanders selected by the junta.

The international community has called on the junta to immediately release Conde and the West African regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened economic sanctions if the demand is not met.

Meanwhile, the military junta released a group of political opponents on Tuesday, as the regional bloc ECOWAS prepared to discuss the turmoil in the West African nation.

The 83-year-old president was under fire for perceived authoritarianism, with dozens of opposition activists arrested after a violently disputed election last year.

Lawyers representing the detainees said that 79 people had been cleared for release in discussions with the military.

The military released a communique on Monday urging the justice ministry to accelerate the release of “political detainees”.

Doumbouya on Tuesday also repeated a pledge to hold talks on forming a new government.

“The government to be installed will be that of national unity and will ensure this political transition,” he tweeted.

Sunday’s coup triggered broad diplomatic condemnation including from the United States, European Union, African Union, and the West African bloc ECOWAS with calls for Conde’s release.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is due to hold a virtual extraordinary summit to discuss the crisis on Wednesday.

Russia also said it wanted Guinean institutions restored “as soon as possible”.

“We expect in any case that the interests of our businessmen will not be affected,” a Kremlin spokesman said.

Russian aluminum giant Rusal has a presence in Guinea, which is one of the world’s poorest countries despite its major reserves of bauxite, a mineral used in aluminum production.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK