Guinea Extends Transition Period Beyond December 31

Joy ChukwuDecember 16, 20241 Mins read254

Guinea’s transition period, initially set to conclude on December 31, will be extended, according to Ousmane Diallo, the country’s Minister of Transport and government spokesperson. Diallo said conditions for the transitional period to end have not yet been met.

The announcement is a shift from earlier plans outlined by the military government that seized power in September 2021.

The transitional charter did not specify the conditions for ending the transition period. However, the minister said it did mention that the restoration of the state was part of the process, and this stage was still in progress.

Guinea is discussing drafting a new constitution, which is expected to be submitted to a national referendum soon.

The transitional Prime Minister, Amadou Bah, said the draft constitution includes provisions allowing Mamady Doumbouya, the current transitional president and military leader, to run in upcoming presidential elections.

The West African nation has been under military rule since a coup that ousted President Alpha Condé in September 2021. Following the coup, the military established the National Cohesion and Development Committee as the highest governing body and replaced the constitution with a Transitional Charter. In October 2021, Doumbouya assumed the role of transitional president.

As part of a 2022 agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Guinea’s military government committed to restoring civilian rule through elections by the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, it will be recalled that in October, the Guinean government dissolved 53 political parties and placed two major opposition parties under observation, stating that they failed to meet basic administrative and legal requirements following evaluation. According to the government, the dissolution aligns with its goal to create a fair and transparent political system as it transitions into civilian rule.

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