Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya has dismissed 173 soldiers, including a colonel who was instrumental in his 2021 coup, for alleged desertion. Colonel Michel Lamah was a member of the elite Special Forces Group (GFS), which Doumbouya formerly commanded.
The dismissals were announced via a decree read out on state television by General Amara Camara, the president's spokesperson. No specific details were provided regarding the circumstances of the alleged desertions of the 173 military personnel. The move is widely seen as part of President Doumbouya's ongoing efforts to consolidate his authority and prevent any potential challenges to his leadership. The soldiers removed came from various branches of the Guinean military.
Doumbouya, 41, came to power in a September 2021 coup that overthrew President Alpha Condé. At the time, Doumbouya pledged not to seek election and to hand over power to civilian rule. However, he later reneged on this promise and ran in the December presidential election, which he won decisively. The recent dismissals suggest a continued focus on securing his control over the nation's security apparatus.