Guinea’s president Mamadi Doumbouya Photo: AFP by GETTY IMAGES

Guinea’s president Mamadi Doumbouya has dismissed 173 military personnel for “desertion”, including a colonel who played a prominent role in the 2021 coup that brought him to power.

As reported by the BBC on Wednesday, the dismissals were announced in a presidential decree broadcast on state television on Monday.

The decree did not provide details about when or how the alleged desertions occurred.

Among those removed from the armed forces is Colonel Michel Lamah, a former member of Guinea’s elite Special Forces Group.

Lamah became widely known during the September 2021 coup after troops stormed the presidential palace and arrested then-President Alpha Condé. He was photographed in a vehicle carrying the deposed leader following his arrest.

Doumbouya, who was commander of the Special Forces at the time, led the coup and subsequently became head of the military authorities governing Guinea.

The latest dismissals come as Doumbouya continues to reorganise the country’s military and security institutions, with his government repeatedly emphasising discipline and military hierarchy.

The move is particularly significant because Lamah was among the officers associated with the operation that helped Doumbouya seize power five years ago.

Doumbouya initially promised that he would not seek elected office and would eventually return Guinea to civilian rule. However, he later stood in the presidential election and won by a landslide.

Since taking power, his government has faced criticism over restrictions on civil liberties, including limits on protests, pressure on media organisations and the treatment of opposition figures.

The dismissal of the 173 soldiers adds another significant development to Doumbouya’s efforts to reshape Guinea’s armed forces and strengthen his authority over the country’s security establishment.

Gilbert Ekugbe

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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