By Alpha Abu
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has told the American Television network CNN that directly engaging the Guinean junta was the right thing to do rather than keeping away from them. President Bio who went to Conakry and held discussions with junta leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya last week, said his visit was not on behalf of the regional bloc ECOWAS which he said had condemned the “unconstitutional removal of President Alpha Conde”, but on the basis of the geographical proximity of Sierra Leone to Guinea, coupled with the affinity and long standing relationship between the two countries.
“We have to talk to the people there, understand what they want to do and influence them to do in the way they can do it, so that it is acceptable to the international community”, President Bio stated.
He didn’t hide his intention to have “a very frank conversation with the rest of ECOWAS” so they could acknowledge the need for member states to keep engaging the leadership in Guinea.
He said during his visit, he asked the military leaders about their programme and they have in turn explained what they want to do. He believed it was now for him to sit with his ECOWAS colleagues and explain to them exactly on the way the present leadership in Guinea wants to go, and see how they can help them achieve that within a reasonable time that is acceptable. He warned keeping away from Guinea could only worsen the situation.
Sierra Leone and Guinea have over the years shared intelligence and security briefings but for quite some time before Conde got ousted, it was mooted that arrangement was not as frequent and robust as it used to be. President Bio was clearly drawn to the unsettling scenario. “We have security arrangements that have fallen apart; I need to sort those out. My national security is of utmost importance to me”, he asserted.
Asked if his trip to Conakry was not a way of legitimising the military leadership, President Bio said he has national interest to secure as a country, and him being leader, he has to ensure the interest of Sierra Leone should “come above any other consideration”.
He reiterated his opposition to the putsch saying: “I have stood and I stand with ECOWAS and asked them (coup leaders) to return to constitutionality but at the same time, I am the closest neighbour. I am only 18 minutes away by air to Conakry so I need to have special arrangements and I did so with the consent of few of the members because I needed to make my position very clear”.
He affirmed security discussions were needed irrespective of who was in charge in the Guinean capital, and even disclosed of a meeting to take place this week involving the Technical teams of the two countries during which security matters will be addressed, including how they could continue their joint –border patrols.
On the 5th September this year, soldiers drawn mostly from the elite Special Forces led by their commander Col. Doumbouya descended on the official residence of President Conde in the conservative Kaloum area in Conakry, amidst sporadic gunfire. They arrested Conde , announced the overthrow of his government that was almost into the first year of a controversial third term, and suspended the constitution.
Video recording of the coup leaders draped in the colours of the Guinean national flag announcing the overthrow of the civilian regime, circulated around the world. Coup leader Doumbouya served in the French Foreign Legion but returned home reportedly at the behest of Conde to establish the elite contingent of soldiers. The coup happened at a time US troops were in the country training the Guinean military. The American government, other Western Powers, ECOWAS and the African Union all condemned the coup and called for a return to constitutional order.
The soldiers accused Conde of corruption and of violating the country’s constitution. He was first voted into office in 2010 as the first democratically elected president since Guinea gained independence from France in 1958.
Despite widespread opposition, he controversially amended the country’s constitution in 2020, so he could run for a third term. He got elected in October 2020 in an election marred by violence and accusations of electoral fraud. Conde soon became almost paranoia ordering at some point the closure of his country’s borders with Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Sierra Leone, heightening tension.
The deposed president is still being held by the military despite international calls for his release. Meanwhile the soldiers have been consolidating their grip on power; Doumbouya is now President of a transitional government. He has also appointed former UN Assistant Secretary General for Climate Risk Management, Mohamed Beavougui as Prime Minister. Beavougui is expected to oversee multi-party elections. There is no timetable yet for a return to constitutional rule.
Copyright © Politico Online 19/10/21
