Guinea president dismisses 173 soldiers for desertion

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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.

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

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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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