Guinea’s legislative body on Wednesday announced there would be a three-year or 36 months transition period before civilian rule is restored in the country, reported France 24.
The timetable presented by the National Rallying Committee for Development (CNRD), set up by the junta and headed by Doumbouya, was “debated, approved and adopted” by the National Transition Council (CNT) legislative body.
The decision, which was taken at a legislative plenary meeting on Wednesday, places Guinea at odds with regional partners as well as the United Nations (UN) who have both called for a much shorter transition period.
The 36 months transition period is slightly shorter than the one which military junta leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya had announced previously.
In September last year, Guinea’s military-led by Colonel Doumbouya dethroned president Alpha Conde from his post.
The 84-year-old Conde had faced mass public opposition after he drafted a new constitution in 2020 that allowed him to run for a third presidential term. He was initially detained after the coup but was allowed to go to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment in January. He returned home on April 10. On April 22, the ruling junta finally freed the former president from house arrest.
After the coup, Colonel Doumbouya got sworn in as Guinea’s interim president. He promised to form a new “union” government with civilian leaders within weeks – but failed to do so.
Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali have recently experienced military coups. There were coups in Mali in August 2020 and May 2021, Guinea in September 2021, and Burkina Faso in January 2022.
Like Mali and Burkina Faso, Guinea has also been suspended from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Earlier this month, UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the military juntas in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali to hand power back to civilians as soon as possible.
