VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The impression that countries on the African continent are always plagued by conflict, civil war, food shortages, and coups, has not disappeared.

The chaos in Ethiopia, due to rebel resistance on the northern border that caused refugees and the danger of famine, is now followed by a coup in one of the countries on the west coast of the continent, namely Guinea. Guinean military elements, arrested President-elect Alpha Conde and coup d'etat his government on Sunday, September 5, 2021. The coup was led by a Colonel, commander of the country's elite troops, Mamady Doumbouya. Following information through the mass media regarding the detention of Alpha Conde, Colonel Mamady confirmed the takeover of power at a press conference in Conakry, the capital of Guinea.

He promised the mass media that he would soon form a government to undergo a transition period before the formation of a new government. The coup leader barred all government officials from leaving the country.

As reported by a number of international mass media, many people  in Conakry welcomed the military's actions. They took to the streets hailing the military troops patrolling the capital. The coup leader stated that the act was carried out to save the country, including from abuse of authority and corruption. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, stated that he  had frozen the state law.

Interestingly, President Alpha Conde is the first Guinean President to rise to power thanks to popular elections in 2010, and has served two terms in office. Conde has only serving  one year in his third term through the 2020 election. However, his last term was obtained after the Law on the Office of the President was changed on his initiative, from two terms to three consecutive terms. The amendments to the law have come under fire from the opposition, who criticized it for being carried out at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.

The coup in West African Guinea is nothing new. The first occurred on September 23, 2008 by the military led by a major. What is different from the 2021 coup, the 2008 coup, happened just  after the then President Lansana Conte, died. At that time, the United States only voiced its hope for a peaceful transition period. But regarding  the 2021 coup, the United States condemned the military action. The United Nations, African Union and regional agency Ecowas have also joined in condemning this coup and calling for the return of civilian rule. After all, Alpha Conde was Guinea's first democratically elected president by election in 2010 and in the following two terms.

Will Guinea get better, with the military's promise to end abuse of power and corruption? And will the people who welcome the coup d'etat also have a better life in the future? Only time will tell.