8th September, 2021
The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) has described as unfortunate the political development in Guinea, following Sunday’s coup d’etat.
The coup plotters led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, arrested President Alpha Conde, dissolved the cabinet and suspended the constitution.
The Forum which is an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation noted that the event in the West African nation is capable of imperilling democratic progress recorded in the region in the last two decades.
A statement by the Communications Officer of the Foundation, Wealth Dickson Ominabo quoted the convener of the Forum, former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as saying that:
“At a time when the rest of the global community are consolidating the gains of sustained democratic rule, the subregion cannot afford to return to the inglorious era of military dictatorship.”
The Forum condemned the military incursion into the civic space of Guinea and called on the actors to release all those arrested and respect the rights of all citizens.
The Forum urged the people of Guinea to commit themselves to nation-building and work towards the restoration of constitutional order in the country.
It said democracy remains the best governance instrument for the promotion of citizens’ participation, sustainable development and the realisation of other collective aspirations of peace, unity and justice.