Guinea’s Doumbouya on leave as army reassures public on stability

Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya departed Conakry on Monday for a private family trip to Greece, marking what the presidency described as the country’s first officially announced annual leave by a sitting head of state.

Doumbouya was seen off at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, high-ranking military commanders, senior presidency officials, and members of the diplomatic corps. The presidency emphasized that the break comes after years of intensive state management and is intended to promote governance transparency before the continuation of major ongoing reforms.

Hours following the president’s departure, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura released a statement intended to maintain public calm and counter speculation. Speaking on behalf of the defense and security forces, General Bangoura reaffirmed the military’s unyielding loyalty to the president, constitutional institutions, and the Guinean public. He assured citizens that the armed forces remain fully vigilant to preserve domestic stability and safeguard territorial integrity, while cautioning the public against falling target to online misinformation during the head of state’s absence.

The military’s public declaration reflects its central role in Guinea’s governance landscape since September 2021, when special forces led by then-Colonel Doumbouya deposed former President Alpha Condé. Following the establishment of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), Doumbouya guided a political transition, earned promotion to general, and subsequently assumed the presidency to implement state reforms. Government authorities reiterated that state functions and institutional operations will continue uninterrupted throughout the president’s leave.

AC/Sf/lb/abj/APA