Guinea’s junta has taken decisive action by ordering the seizure of government members’ passports and freezing their bank accounts, following the dissolution of the administration for undisclosed reasons.
Since seizing power in a coup in September 2021, the military decreed on Monday the dissolution of the government, which had been in office since July 2022.
General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, Chief of Staff, announced on state television that the junta had also frozen the accounts, confiscated travel documents, and removed service vehicles, bodyguards, and assistants of government members, in the presence of approximately 20 soldiers.
However, no public explanation has been provided for these measures.
Similar to other military regimes in West Africa since 2020, the junta in Guinea has emphasized combating corruption as a priority.
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The state broadcaster, RTG, aired a three-minute tribute to junta leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, highlighting his leadership amidst unspecified “moments of adversity.”
Recent tensions among government members have surfaced, notably with a rare protest in the capital, Conakry, earlier this month.
The junta had banned all demonstrations in 2022 and has detained several opposition figures, members of civil society, and journalists. Additionally, internet access has been restricted for several weeks.
Under international pressure, Doumbouya has pledged to return governance to elected civilians by the end of 2024.
The military aims to use this transitional period to implement substantial reforms in Guinea, a resource-rich country that still grapples with poverty.
