Guinean rebel leaders, who staged a coup earlier this week, released a group of political opponents of ousted deposed president Alpha Conde on Tuesday, reported France 24.
The development comes as the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, prepares to discuss the turmoil in Guinea. The organization has condemned the forceful coup. The group is scheduled to hold a virtual extraordinary summit to discuss the crisis in Guinea on Wednesday.
According to an AFP journalist, about 20 prisoners were released free from prison in the capital Conakry on Tuesday evening. The list includes some prominent opposition activists. Lawyers representing the detainees said that the military has cleared the release of 79 people.
The military released a communique on Monday urging the justice ministry to accelerate the release of political detainees.
On Sunday, Special Guinean forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya led a coup and arrested President Conde, sparking international condemnation.
The 83-year-old president became increasingly unpopular among the masses for perceived authoritarianism, with dozens of opposition activists arrested after a violently disputed election last year. He oversaw a change to the constitution in 2020 that brought him to a third term in power.
After the takeover, Doumbouya announced that the government had been dissolved, and declared the constitution void, imposing a nationwide curfew. He vowed that the military will soon set up a government of national unity to steer a smooth transition.
The coup leader barred Guinean ministers and government officials from leaving the nation and ordered them to return their official vehicles to the military.
The coup attracted strong diplomatic condemnation from various international organizations and foreign countries including the United States, European Union, African Union, and the West African bloc ECOWAS with calls for Conde’s release.
Although the military has assured president Conde is safe, his whereabouts remain unknown.
