Although the democratic government of Guinea led by President Alpha Conde has been overthrown by the military, the country is not in chaos.
This is according to two Guineans who spoke under anonymity on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, September 6.
They say Monday in Guinea was characterised by jubilation over the military take which many international media networks have described as a coup d’etat.
“The situation is calm. People have been rejoicing throughout the day. People are happy about the coup d’etat even though they are not calling it a coup d’etat. The whole population is rejoicing and jubilating about it.”
The reason for celebration, one said is because citizens viewed the Conde administration as an oppressive kind.
Thus, the apparent coup d’etat is a kind of justice rendered to the entire country.
“This is due to the fact that the just-dissolved government had ruled with some kind of maximum operation and this has been the case since 2010. Arbitrary arrest actions and injustice and a whole lot of it you can mention when it comes to misgovernance, corruption.
“If you check the international body, Guinea is known as one of the richest countries. Perhaps one-third of the world’s readily deposit of bauxite but at the same time, it (Guinea) is one of the poorest countries in the sub-region. So all of this is due to extreme misgovernance.”
They further reiterated to host, Evans Mensah that “We will consider it as a kind of justice rendered to the entire country because these people have long been oppressing the Guineans so seeing them out of the way is a kind of joy. The satisfaction that people are expressing through the videos you are seeing online. So this is the situation. We feel like we have just been freed from an oppressive government.”
Meanwhile, checks by Myjoyonline on social media affirmed the statements by the two Guineans.
On Sunday, September 5, a Guinean military officer, Mamady Doumbouya announced that the country’s constitution has been revoked following a coup.
After seizing the airwaves, the mutinous soldiers vowed to restore democracy.
Colonel Mamady Doumbouya sat draped in a Guinean flag with half a dozen other soldiers in uniform alongside him as he read the statement, saying: “The duty of a soldier is to save the country. The personalisation of political life is over. We will no longer entrust politics to one man, we will entrust it to the people.”
He added that borders will be closed for one week.
Some people of #Guinea were seen celebrating the military coup.
— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) September 6, 2021
📹 pic.twitter.com/qAIwqYdgnU
Head of JoyNews political desk, Evans Mensah reported that the officer during his announcement referenced wise sayings from Ghana’s former President, Jerry John Rawlings who also staged a coup in 1979.
“If the people are crushed by their elites, it is up to the army to give the people their freedom.”
International sources reveal that President Alpha Conde has been arrested.
Following this unfortunate incident, the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), has condemned the Guinean military’s arrest of Alpha Conde and demanded his release.
“ECOWAS reaffirms its disapproval of any unconstitutional political change,” the statement, signed by the Chairman, President Akufo-Addo read.
Also, ECOWAS is demanding a return to constitutional rule, stating that failure will attract sanctions.
