Guinea’s junta leader names prime minister

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Guinea’s junta leader Col. Mamadi Doumbouya named Mohamed Beavogui as prime minister of the transitional government Wednesday, according to an announcement read on state television.

Beavogui, 68, a former senior program officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has since January 2015 been director general of the African Capacity Building Agency based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

His appointment, which had been expected for a few days, comes a month after the military led by Doumbouya deposed President Alpha Conde.

It also comes nearly a week after Doumbouya was sworn in as interim president.

The naming of the transitional prime minister will be followed by the establishment of a National Transitional Council as stipulated in the Transition Charter unveiled last week.

The charter outlines a series of tasks, including the drafting of a new constitution and the holding of elections, but does not define a time limit to the transitional period.

The prime minister directs and coordinates the government's actions, ensuring the proper functioning of public services, according to the charter.

The charter specifies that the prime minister must within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of appointment of the members of the government submit for approval to the president of the transition, the action plan of the transitional government's roadmap.

Beavogui has more than 30 years of experience in development planning, management and financing.

He has in the past missed two opportunities to be prime minister in Guinea, the first being in 2007 after major social movements proposed him among four nominees.

Beavogui benefited from a university scholarship in the former Soviet Union and graduated in mechanical engineering and mining machinery from Leningrad Polytechnic University.

He also holds a degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the US.

The transition will be led by four institutions or figures, the charter said, namely the National Committee for Rally and Development (CNRD) set up by the junta, Col. Doumbaya, who will serve as the committee's head, a government led by a civilian prime minister, and a legislative body called the National Transitional Council (CNT).

The CNT, comprising 81 members drawn from political parties, civil society, trade unions, employers, the security forces and other bodies, will have the task of drawing up a new constitution.