Supporters and ex-prisoners react after the release of dozens of political opponents of the deposed president

Guinea Putchists Release First Batch of Political Detainees

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in African News September 8, 2021

Putchists in Guinea released a group of political opponents of deposed president Alpha Conde on Tuesday. This happened as a political block prepared to discuss the turmoil in the West African country.

The Special forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya staged a coup in the mineral-rich but impoverished country.

This happened on Sunday and consequently led to the arrest of president Apha Conde sparking international condemnation.

The 83-year-old president had been put under pressure for perceived authoritarianism with dozens of arrested activists. These actions followed a violently disputed election in 2020.

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

‘’We pray to God that this is a new era for Guinea. May no Guinean be in prison for the same reason as us,’’ said Ismail Conde, a recently released opposition-party activist.

On Monday, the military released a communique urging the justice ministry to speed up the release of ‘political detainees’. Following this, Doumbouya on Tuesday repeated a pledge to hold talks on the formation of 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, and African Union among others. All of these called for the release of Conde.

ECOWAS is due to hold a virtual summit to discuss the crisis on Wednesday. Russia also said it wanted Guinean institutions restored as soon as possible.

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