Guinea’s President Mamadi Doumbouya has dismissed 173 military personnel for alleged desertion, a move that removes a member of the elite unit that helped him take power in 2021.
Among those dismissed is Colonel Michel Lamah, who served in the Special Forces unit that backed Doumbouya during the coup that brought him to office.
The dismissals come as Doumbouya works to consolidate his position after reneging on a pledge to hand power back to civilian rule.
Doumbouya won December’s presidential election with 87% of the vote. Since taking power, his government has faced criticism over restrictions on civil liberties, including bans on protests, media closures, and the targeting of opposition figures.
Over the past five years, Doumbouya has focused on transforming Guinea, a country rich in mineral resources, from a raw materials exporter into a center for industrial processing.
Source: allAfrica.com