After dissolving the government for unspecified reasons, Guinea’s junta ordered the confiscation of government members’ passports and the freezing of their bank accounts.
The administration, which has been in place since July 2022, was ordered to dissolve on Monday by the military, who seized control in a coup in September 2021.
Chief of Staff General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura stated on state television that the junta had ordered their accounts to be frozen, their travel documents to be revoked, and their service vehicles, bodyguards, and assistants to be withdrawn. About twenty other soldiers were present when he made this announcement.
The measures have not yet had a public justification provided.
Like many of those who have seized power in West Africa since 2020, the junta in Guinea has put fighting corruption at the forefront of its agenda.
Public broadcaster RTG ran a three-minute tribute to junta leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, stating he was “reaffirming his leadership and proving that he remains the sole master”.
The broadcast spoke of “moments of adversity”, without specifying further
There have been reports of tensions recently among government officials, and early this month saw an unusual protest in Conakry, the capital.
In 2022, the junta outlawed all protests and detained a number of press, opposition, and civil society individuals.
We’ve had restrictions on internet access for a few weeks now.
Doumbouya has pledged, in response to international criticism, to return the reins of power to elected civilians by the end of 2024.
The military has said the so-called transitional period would allow it to carry out far-reaching reforms in Guinea, which remains poor despite considerable natural resources.
AFP
