Cellou Dalein Diallo, prime minister of Guinea from 2004 t0 2006 and currently an opposition leader, has spoken out in support of the recent coup that toppled President Alpha Conde.
The military-led a coup last week; Conde had been accused of exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, in the wake of a disputed election last year and the arrest of scores of opposition activists. He had also introduced a new constitution which gave him a third term as president.
Diallo had run against Conde in 2020 and maintained that Conde had won illegitimately.
Diallo said: ‘The involvement of the army to end an illegal and illegitimate mandate was for me a welcome decision.’
The military has promised to oversee a unity government and new elections.
‘If (the junta) is really committed to moving toward constitutional order by organising free and transparent elections in a reasonable time I don’t think it’s necessary to sanction them,’ Diallo added.
The coup has prompted fears of democratic failure in the region, particularly since Mali has also suffered coups in recent years.
Both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have suspended Guinea. ECOWAS is holding back on economic sanctions pending the report of a fact-finding mission to the country.