Guinea Conakry: He is the second youngest African leader. Everything to know about colonel Mamady Doumbouya

Col Mamady Doumbouya, a young soldier in his teens who was gifted to be under the command of his comrades, was sworn in as Guinea's interim president on Friday less than a month ago to overthrow President Alpha Condé.

 

. What to know about Col Mamady Doumbouya who overthrew the Alpha Condé regime?

. More on Col Mamady Doumbouya who recently overthrew the regime in Guinea Conakry

The ousted president once trusted Col Doumbouya to help him stay in power in the West African country, which has been plagued by political turmoil.

 

When he announced his overthrow on September 5, the 41-year-old former French soldier said he had no choice but to seize power due to the increase in corruption, the violation of human rights. human and economic mismanagement have marked the 83-year-old regime of President Condé.

 

Col Doumbouya's rise to power means he is now the second youngest ruler in the African nation. Col Assimi Goïta, who has been in power in Mali since May after his ouster, is the only one younger than him in years, since he was born in 1983.

 

"The president is with us, in a safe place." That's what Col Doumbouya told the French media after leading the coup, when a video showing Mr. Condé - wearing nothing on his feet, open shirt locks and a stroller in a pillowcase - was posted on social media.

 

Col Doumbouya, on the other hand - wearing a red hat, sunglasses and military uniforms - appeared on national television announcing that "having a Guinean political life as an individual is over. We will no longer be under the power " of one-man politics, we will give it to the people. "

 

President Condé is still in custody, while the United Nations (UN / UN), the African Union (AU / UA) and the Economic Community of West Africa (CEDEAO / ECOWAS) are all condemned the coup and overthrew him.

 

Both ECOWAS and AU have suspended Guinea from member states.

 

The group announced plans to move the country to civilian rule, but did not specify how long the transition (interim in Kirundi) would last.

 

Anyone in the transitional government, including Col Doumbouya, will not be allowed to run in the next election.

 

From non-disclosure to being President

 

Col Doumbouya, married to a French woman, is of Malinké descent, the same as the ousted President, who hails from the Kankan region in the east of the country.

 

Until he took power, he was a public figure, Guinea-based BBC correspondent Alhassan Sillah says he only saw him on one occasion - three years ago when the country celebrated its 60th anniversary of independence, liberating colonial rule. France.

 

"He was the most prominent man of all because of his stature, stature, and blackness. He led the cavalry, saluted the heads of state and the people. "our correspondent says, adding that mainly in Guinea they have welcomed the overthrow of the regime.

 

Some say Col Doumbouya is a skilled soldier in commanding his comrades, while others say his abilities are in doubt.

 

In particular, Col Doumbouya is one of 25 Guinean officials in the European Union (EU / EU) who have long threatened to impose sanctions, accusing them of human rights abuses in recent years under President Condé's rule. .

 

But after the overthrow, he told the people of Guinea that "we will take responsibility for all the mistakes we have made and for all Guineans."

 

Col Doumbouya echoed the sentiments of Jerry Rawlings - another soldier who was gifted by his comrades who took power through the 1979 coup d'etat in Ghana - saying:

 

"If the people are oppressed by their rulers, it is the military's duty to give the people their freedom."

 

He served in the military in Afghanistan 

 

Paul Melly, a West African political analyst, says Col Doumbouya is the most recent of the many middle-ranking military officers to lead the coup in the region, promising to make political reforms.

 

“But what sets him apart from many of his predecessors is his international experience, not only in France but also in fact serving as a French soldier and working in peacekeeping missions or in foreign aid operations in some countries,” he added. it's a tragedy. "

During his 15 years in the military, Col Doumbouya has served on missions in Afghanistan, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Central Africa and close security in Israel, Cyprus, Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Guinea.

 

He is said to have "successfully completed" special security training at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Israel, as well as military training in Senegal, Gabon and France.

 

After years of serving in the French Foreign Forces, Col Doumbouya was asked by Mr. Condé to return to Guinea in 2018 to command a newly formed Special Forces Group (Groupement des Forces Spéciales, GFS).

 

At that time he was headquartered in the city of Forécariah, in western Guinea, working in the French field of national control (Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire, DST) and investigation.

 

By inviting Col Doumbouya to set up a special GFS unit, Mr Condé was unaware that he was accelerating his political end.

 

Mamadou Aliou Barry, a Guinea-based political analyst, told RFI: "I think [Condé] was looking for a security device to use in a special crackdown."

 

"Unfortunately for him, when he wanted to use it, the head of the special unit turned him on."