It feels like a race against time for Guinea’s new prime minister. Less than twenty-four hours after his appointment as Prime Minister, Bah Oury was officially sworn in on Wednesday 28 February 2024.
In his inauguration speech, the new leader promised to tackle the triple whammy social, economic and political crises blighting the country.
“My government will strive to bring Guineans back to basics and promote peace in the country,” he said.
To achieve this, Oury called for “serenity and responsibility” on the part of all his compatriots to help Guinea “keep its head above water.”
“If everyone joins hands in responsible calm, we can move forward, and Guinea has the capacity to move forward,” he argued.
The new PM also promised to “scrupulously respect the provisions of the transition charter and the principles of honour, probity and dignity, without prejudice to the social, political and cultural balance of the Guinean nation.”
Guinea’s transition is due to end in December this year and realising that there is no room for tardiness, Bah Oury has showed no intention of slowing down.
“The real work begins today, and I think that this will allow us to clarify the broad outlines that will help us to communicate much more clearly with the Guinean population on the main lines that we have to follow, with the agreement of the President of the Republic, General Mamadi Doumbouya,” he said.
The new PM, a former first vice-president of opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) and ex minister for national reconciliation in the 2010 transition period, has extensive experience in Guinean politics.
This should enable him to reconcile certain positions and lead Guinea towards a peaceful transition.
ASD/te/lb/as/APA