Mamady Doumbouya is the brain behind the ousting of Guinea president Alpha Conde through the coup that happened on September 5, 2021 but there’s a lot to the story.
The story is one of betrayal or an surbodinate turning on his master. On September 5, 2021, Mamady Doumbouya, a French-trained soldier kicked out his boss Alpha Conde from the presidential seat.
Doumbouya was appointed head of a Special Forces Group, an elite military unit created by Alpha Condé to protect him, by the same toppled president a few years ago.
Conde’s goal was to protect his interests, but at around 6:00 a.m., the lanky soldier brought in his gun-toting Army loyalists to arrest his boss, an 83-year-old man who came to power in 2010.
Why Alpha Conde Appointed Mamady Doumbouya:
A sit-tight syndrome that begins to map out on assumption of office is common among African leaders. It’s no surprise that after taking office on December 21, 2010, ex-President Conde established the Special Forces Group and appointed a former French legionnaire as its commander.
The goal was clear: Conde needed a man with extensive experience to put down any insurgency against his government. The chief coup plotter knew exactly what the former president required.
One of the qualities that made him a preferred candidate for the job was his international experience. In addition to being a legionnaire, he has extensive military international experience.
Who is Mamdy Doumbouya:
Mamady Doumbouya was born in eastern Guinea, more specifically in the Kankan Region. The region is bordered by Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the Guinean regions of Nzérékoré and Faranah.
Doumbouya was trained as an infantry soldier in the French legionnaire before being invited to come to head the Special Forces Group, an elite military unit created by Alpha Condé to protect him and make the presidential palace more secure.
He was a corporal when he returned to Guinea in 2018 on Conde’s invitation to lead the Special Forces Group.
He has received an accelerated promotion in the Army since then. He was promoted to battalion commander just a few months after taking on the military responsibility of protecting the deposed president.
Conde promoted him to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2019, and he was promoted to colonel in 2020.
In 2019, he participated in US training in Mauritania.
Why Mamady Doubouya Staged A Coup Against Alpha Conde
Prior to the former French colony’s coup on September 5, 2021, there were reports that the chief coup plotter was seeking more powers for his military unit.
Hundreds of Guineans took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate Conde’s removal from power, despite the fact that he had been accused of corruption.
In a television address to the nation, the coup leader stated that Guinea required military assistance due to the “dire political situation of our country.”
Conde’s other sins include:
- the instrumentalization of the judiciary,
- Conde’s plan to run for a third term violates democratic principles.
- Public administration has become extremely politicized.
- Guineans live in abject poverty.
The reason given by the French-trained colonel is not unusual, but we have seen military leaders in African countries violate the same reasons that brought them to power.
Mamady Doumbouya made an appearance on Radio-Télévision Guinéenne (RTG) on September 5th at 2 p.m. The lieutenant colonel, who was wearing a red beret and fatigues and had a tricolour flag draped over his shoulders, was surrounded by eight of his men when he announced President Alpha Condé’s dismissal.
The leader of the Special Forces Group also declared himself the leader of the coup and declared himself Guinea’s new strongman.
“We will no longer entrust politics to one man, but to the people.”
There have been many deaths, injuries, and tears for nothing,” he said, slamming Guinea’s previous mismanagement, corruption, and poor governance.
He confirmed that the institutions had been suspended, that a new constitution would be drafted, and that the transition period would be governed by the Comité National du Rassemblement et du Développement (CNRD).