Guinea’s coup leaders install military governors

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Guinea’s coup leaders installed army officers at the top of the country’s eight regions and various administrative districts Tuesday, local media reported, symbolizing their zeal to consolidate power.

State RTG television broadcast footage of General Aboubacar Diakite, who took over from civilian governor Sadou Keita in Kankan, the region known to have been ousted President Alpha Conde's electoral stronghold.

Keita described his replacement by the army general as a “moment of joy and remorse,” the report said.

In Labe province in the country’s north, soldiers reportedly took down a photograph of Conde from a wall of Governor Elhadj Madifing Diane's office as he handed over to an army officer.

The military junta that overthrew Conde over the weekend pledged Monday to establish a “government of national unity” and assured that there would be no revenge or witch hunt of former government officials.

The military has asked the attorney general to release political prisoners.

Conde was deposed and detained last Sunday by soldiers led by army Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, who announced the takeover on state television and dissolution of the National Assembly and constitution.

Conde, 83, was re-elected for a third term in October 2020 in polls marred by violence.

He first came to power in 2010 in a vote seen as the first democratic election since the former French colony gained independence.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is due to meet Wednesday over the situation in Guinea. ECOWAS condemned the military takeover of power and threatened sanctions.