Coup leader:Guinea’s transition to civilian rule to take 3 years

Ruling generals in Guinea say a transition back to civilian rule will probably take more than three years, a proposal certain to upset West Africa’s political bloc that has called for a swift return to constitutional order after last year’s coup.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, head of the military government that took power in September, stated that after political consultations he was considering a transition of 39 months, the first time he has proposed a timeline.

In September 2021, army officers led by Doumbouya removed elected President Alpha Conde in the impoverished former French colony.

Conde, 84, had drawn fierce opposition after he pushed through a new constitution in 2020 that allowed him to run for a third presidential term.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had set last Monday as a deadline for putting forward an “acceptable” transition timetable or risk economic and financial sanctions.

Guinea’s ruling military let the deadline pass, however, asking ECOWAS for more time for consultations to continue.

ECOWAS has called for an “acceptable” timeline for a return to civilian rule, failing which it has threatened to extend sanctions applied to Guinea following the coup.