President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has implored member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to agree on a durable solution to the Guinea political crisis.
The regional bloc held a remarkable summit in Accra to force the military regime to return the country to constitutional rule.
President-elect Alpha Conde was removed from power in a military coup led by the Commander of the country’s special forces Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.
The soldiers detained the 82-year-old presidents after ousting him in the capital, Conakry.
Later in time, revolutionist Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya appeared on state broadcaster Radio Television Guineenne, swaddled in the Guinean flag, introducing himself to surprised Guineans as the country’s new leader.
Guinea is the world’s biggest producer of bauxite, a mineral used to make aluminum.
The coup détat in Guinea threw the country into a state of uncertainty, caused the West African economic bloc to threaten sanctions and saw the price of aluminum reach its highest level in more than a decade.
Regional leaders in a virtual conference directly condemned the apprehension, compelling the rebels to restore constitutional order and release Alpha Conde.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who chairs the ECOWAS Council of Minister’s revealed after assessing the situation.
Ms. Botchwey’s report is deduced to form the basis for the review at the summit.
ECOWAS chair, President Akufo Addo, who is the welcoming member states condemned the coup and called for full restoration of the constitutional order.
He disclosed the bloc is in solidarity with the people of Guinea and is working to ensure the peace, prosperity and unity of Guinea.
“We have gathered here to take a firm decision on Guinea and I trust excellences to come up with a durable solution to the crisis because the decision will have long term consequences on the stability and defence of democratic values of the region”.
Alpha Conde in 2010 became Guinea’s first democratically elected leader, his victory seen as putting an end to decades of authoritarian rule by the country’s two first presidents, Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte, who were in office for 26 and 24 years respectively.
Conde was re-elected for a second term in 2015. But he became increasingly disliked when he pushed through a constitutional referendum, backed by Russia, that Conde said allowed him to seek a controversial third term in October 2020 polls, which he won.