Guinea’s military junta has announced it has barred its members from contesting in the next elections that will pave a way to civilian rule in the country, reported The BBC.
The announcement was made on Monday when the junta leaders announced a transitional charter that confirmed military leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya as the president following the coup earlier this month.
According to the transitional charter, Guinea’s government will be headed by a civilian prime minister and a national transitional council that will temporarily act as a parliament.
The council will consist of 81 members selected from the society including political parties, religious organizations, business leaders, diplomats, and professional organizations. The members of the council won’t be allowed to run in the next local or national elections.
As per the charter, at least 30% of the council members will be female and will include a president and two vice-presidents. The council will finalize the length of the transitional government period before holding elections in the country.
The junta has been holding discussions with the country’s politicians, leaders of political parties, various civil society groups, diplomatic missions, heads of mining companies, and business leaders in recent weeks to build a consensus on the country’s future including a time-frame for a return to civilian rule.
The military unit headed by Col Doumbouya seized power on September 5 by ousting President Alpha Conde, accusing his government of mismanagement and corruption. The coup has been condemned by Guinea’s partners and regional bodies.
The West African political and economic bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), suspended Guinea from its decision-making bodies following the coup. The bloc had levied sanctions on Guinea’s coup leaders and called for elections to be held in the next six months in a demand for a quick return to civilian rule.
