Guinea's president dismisses 173 soldiers, including coup ally, for desertion

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, President Mamady Doumbouya, 41, won elections in December - four years after seizing power in a coupByHafsa KhalilPublished40 minutes agoGuinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya, 41, has dismissed more than 170 soldiers for "desertion", including a colonel who helped him seize power in a coup in 2021.Col Michel Lamah was a member of the Special Forces Group (GFS), the elite army unit which Doumbouya once commanded.When he overthrew President Alpha Condé, Doumbouya said he would not seek election and would hand over to civilian rule. He went on to renege on that promise and stood in December's election - which he won with a landslide.The dismissals, announced in a decree on state television, are thought to be part of ongoing efforts by the president to consolidate his control and prevent potential challenges to his leadership.Those in the firing line came from various branches of the military. No details were given about the circumstances of the alleged desertions of the 173 military personnel when Gen Amara Camara, the president's spokesman, read out the decree on Monday.From camouflage to tracksuits - Guinea's junta leader becomes civilian presidentPublished17 JanuaryCol Lamah caught public attention during the September 2021 coup when he was photographed in a vehicle carrying deposed President Condé.Troops had stormed the presidential palace and arrested Condé, who had been re-elected the year before for a controversial third term in office amid violent protests.Since the coup, the West African nation has seen a crackdown on many civil liberties.Media outlets have been shut down, protests have been banned and some political parties have been suspended, while activists and opposition figures have been arrested or exiled.Two of Guinea's biggest opposition parties - RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG - were excluded from last year's election, which saw the former junta leader win 87% of the vote.Over the last five years, Doumbouya has been focused on trying to turn Guinea, which is rich in mineral resources, from a supplier of raw materials to more of an industrial processing hub.You may also be interested in:The rise of military coups in AfricaPublished30 August 2023Teen jailed for exam cheating in Guinea dies after sickle cell complications, father saysPublished23 JulyFrom Hollywood to the homeland: Why African countries are courting black American starsPublished7 FebruaryGo to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, externalRelated topicsAfricaGuineaBBC Africa podcastsFocus on AfricaThis Is Africa