Guinea coup: Condé’s false sense of invincibility caused his overthrow – Dr Antwi-Danso

Security expert Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso has said the coup that ousted Alpha Condé in Guinea happened because he nurtured a false sense of invincibility.

Speaking at a forum organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, on the theme “What went wrong in Guinea? Lessons for Africa”, Dr Antwi-Danso said the putsch had been hanging over the country for many years.

Providing his analysis of events in the country before the military takeover, Dean at the Ghana Armed Forces Command Staff and College said Alpha Condé’s false sense of invincibility began with his decision to engage the experienced Mamady Doumbouya before the elections to become head of the Presidential Special Guard.

“Mamady was brought from the French legion to specifically lead the guards that were protecting the President,” he said.

He explained that Mr Condé did this because he knew that his plan to extend his presidential term of office will earn him enemies that needed to be crushed swiftly.

The security analyst noted that Mamady Doumbouya, who now leads the junta in Guinea, was recruited to quell the anticipated riots that would be prompted by the move to change the constitution for a third presidential term.

“These guards helped him get through the elections,” he said.

Dr Antwi-Danso, however, noted that because Mamady was well informed due to his experience in the French army, he knew that Alpha Conde wasn’t using the right procedure to attain power.

“When the military see’s that you are using them for the wrong target, they would like to defend themselves because they don’t want to be seen as enemies of the people,” he said.

The coup, Dr Antwi-Danso noted, occurred because the pillars of the governance system had been weakened by that singular act of changing the Guinean constitution.

Dr Antwi-Danso said another false of invincibility that destroyed Alpha Condé’s regime was his confidence in ECOWAS and the AU to protect him at all cost.

Dr Antwi-Danso, who is also an International Relations expert, said the AU and ECOWAS fed this false invincibility because for decades they have failed to crack the whip when African leaders have changed the constitution to stay in power.