September 9, 2021
Albert Baron Ansu
The ouster of former President Alpha Conde yesterday warranted the convening of an emergency ECOWAS Virtual Meeting that has come out with resolution to suspend the country.
Reaction on the news is mixed. Many say it is in keeping with protection of constitutional order, while others have expressed displeasure over the fact that ECOWAS has been lame duck in checkmating constitinal violation in the third term bid of Alpha Conde to warrant putsch.
This has always been the pattern and reaction of the sub regional body in exhibiting revulsion for coup detats.
But observers have been quick to point out that the sanctions and resolutions from ECOWAS had hardly affected the coupists to shift the hardline positions of returning power to democratically elected government soon.
The army under the coup leader Mamady Dumbuya is clearly not ready to hand over power soon with efforts to establish a government after dissolving the cabinet. In a move seen as trying to present a face of benevolent dictator, Mamady Dumbuya has released political detainees.
Whether the suspension of Guinea is going to compel the army to work on a quick transition plan is a matter of wait and see.
The United Nations had earlier condemned the coup in Guinea.
Guinea is a country that has a plethora of natural resources and it is very likely that the army will rely on that source of revenue to defy the suspension and hold on to power to forge a transition plan after amassing wealth, some commentators have projected.
In the immediate aftermath of the coup ECOWAS released a statement signed d by H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President of the Republic of Ghana and Current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority said “ECOWAS reaffirms its objection to any unconstitutional political change. We ask the Guinean defense and security forces to remain in a constitutional posture, and express our solidarity with the Guinean people and their Government”.
The Guinea coup was greeted with celebration from the citizenry upset about the high tide of bad governance that has beset the country.
An ECOWAS mediation team is planning a visit to Conakry to start diplomatic engagement with the coupists.