Political scientist at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has described as worrying the coup situation in Guinea and the subsequent suspension of the country by the ECOWAS. Democracy, according to him, should be the ultimate for African countries and not leaders who desire to carry out a third term regime.
Mr Asah-Asante explained that the quest for third term by constitutionally elected leaders is not restricted to Guinea, but a phenomenon that resounds across Africa.
“If you look at the continent of Africa, it’s not only Guinea… there is what we call the third term agenda where leaders of African countries try to manipulate the constitution using parliament for a third term tenure. For me, that is very worrying because democracy sets limit.
“I was surprised all this while not only Guinea but the rest of Africa with a number of countries doing the third term agenda. AU and ECOWAS and other sub-regional blocs sit down and watch them doing this. Look at the situation in Guinea. Issue of human right abuse, issue of manipulation of electoral system… but we sit down and don’t talk about it. Now, we have coup on our hand and there is a justification… For me, it is a worrying development because whether we like it or not democracy is the way to go”.
Dr Kwame Asah-Asante
Military regime in a democratic country
Commenting on the military coup in Guinea, Mr Asah-Asante underscored the need for the people of Guinea to remain assertive. He further recounted the mayhem associated with military rule and their justification for reliving the very situations they fought against.
“I also blame the people of Guinea in the sense that… the people have popular sovereignty. The right that is in your hand to throw a government away when the government refuses to do your bidding, #that was lost on the people. And for me, these are some of the things that has brought us this far. It is very unfortunate but we have seen some of these things and the justification.
“If you read theories about the military, they have all manner of theories and actions that they do and the ordinary man gets happy. Now, they are releasing people from prison and all that…These are part of the schemes of every military junta as soon as they take power from constitutionally elected bodies. They give them little time and realize that the very things that they condemn, they come back to do it. We saw that in 1966 when [such] criticisms were levelled against Nkrumah having detained people without trial and all that. So, it’s a matter of robbing Peter to pay Paul in that regard and that’s exactly what we are seeing here”.
Dr Kwame Asah-Asante
ECOWAS suspends Guinea
Guinea has been suspended from the West African regional bloc Ecowas following the coup that overthrew President Alpha Condé on Sunday. The bloc has also demanded Mr Condé’s release from custody.
Leaders of the 15-nation bloc held a virtual meeting to discuss the coup waged by elite troops led by the 41-year-old Col Mamady Doumbouya who accused Mr Condé, 83, of rampant corruption and human rights abuses.
The deposed president’s whereabouts are unclear, although the coup leaders have said he is safe.
The junta released about 80 political prisoners who had been detained during Mr Condé’s rule where some 400 people were imprisoned during protests in 2020.
Many of those released were arrested last year during massive nationwide protests against Mr Condé’s plan to stand for a third term.
On Tuesday, September 8, 2021, Guinea’s main opposition leader expressed support for the coup, describing it as an opportunity for a new beginning. Cellou Dalein Diallo said the army’s junta was historic, but called on them to foster national reconciliation.
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