Mamady Doumbouya (N'Ko: ߡߊ߬ߡߊߘߌ߫ ߘߎ߲ߓߎߦߊ߫, born 4 March 1980) is a Guinean military officer serving as the interim president of Guinea since 1 October 2021. Doumbouya led a coup d'état on 5 September 2021 that overthrew the previous president, Alpha Condé. He is a member of the Guinean Special Forces Group and a former French legionnaire. On the day of the coup, Doumbouya issued a broadcast on state television declaring that his faction had dissolved the government and constitution. On 1 October 2021, Doumbouya was sworn in as interim president.[1]
Doumbouya was a French legionnaire holding the rank of corporal before he returned to Guinea to lead the Special Forces Group, an elite military unit created by President Alpha Condé.[3][5] When he took office, receiving promotion to the rank of battalion commander, his international experience was cited, including training he had completed in a number of different countries.[3][5] In 2018, he met Assimi Goïta, from Mali, in Burkina Faso at a US Army training session for regional special forces commanders. Both he and Assimi Goïta would later launch military coups against their governments.[6] He worked in this role for country's intelligence services, based in Forécariah.[4] He was further promoted to lieutenant colonel in 2019 and to colonel in 2020.[5][7] In 2021, he was said to have been seeking more authority for the Special Forces Group.[3] During his presidency, he was promoted to general in 2024 and at the same time, resigned from his command of the Special Forces Group.[8]
Doumbouya was deployed on missions to Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Israel, Cyprus, the UK and Guinea, during his 15-year career.[6]
He was one of 25 officials from Guinea that the European Union threatened to sanction over allegations of human rights abuses.[4]
In May 2021, there were rumors stemming from the government of a possible arrest of Doumbouya while he was in Conakry on unknown accusations or charges.[9]
2021 coup d'état
Mamady Doumbouya on 2 October 2021
Doumbouya was the instigator of the 5 September 2021 Guinean coup d'état, in which the president of Guinea, Alpha Condé, was detained.[10] Doumbouya issued a broadcast on state television declaring that his faction had dissolved the government and constitution.[11] He also said that the "National Committee of Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), [was forced] to take its responsibility" after "the dire political-situation of our country, the instrumentalization of the judiciary, the non-respect of democratic principles, the extreme politicization of public administration, as well as poverty and corruption."[12] In justifying the military's actions, Doumbouya quoted the former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings, who said that "if the people are crushed by their elites, it is up to the army to give the people their freedom."[13]
Interim president of Guinea (2021–present)
Mamady Doumbouya the day the coup took place.
After taking power, he had told ministers to not revolt against him during his first meeting, or otherwise, he would consider it an act of rebellion. Then during his broadcast he would announce that ex-president Alpha Condé would not be released and that they would still give him healthcare. Doumbouya downplayed possible economic sanctions by ECOWAS, saying through a spokesman that "as soldiers, their work is in Guinea and there is nothing to freeze in their accounts."[14] The ECOWAS representatives also urged the junta to allow ousted president Condé to leave Guinea; the junta has refused to do so.[14]
On 1 October 2021, Doumbouya was sworn in as interim president at Mohammed V Palace [fr] in Conakry.[15] He announced plans to "refound the state" introducing "free, credible and transparent" elections and respecting "all the national and international commitments to which the country has subscribed".[6]
On Mali's 62nd anniversary of independence, Doumbouya met with Assimi Goïta in which he was welcomed by him. They discussed about many issues during his visit.[16]
Doumbouya met with Paul Kagame of Rwanda in his country of Guinea which he was the first to meet him since 2021 Guinean coup d'état. He was inspired by him to reform and reconcile his nation like how Kagame did to Rwanda.[17]
Anti-government protestors have been threatened with life in prison by Doumbouya and the junta.[18]
France (formerly)
Guinea
French Foreign Legion (formerly)
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