By Enyichukwu Enemanna
General Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinea’s military junta, has placed a ban on ministers from traveling abroad without his approval.
He also ordered the immediate return of those already outside the country for various reasons, his office announced in a statement on Thursday.
The order takes immediate effect and will remain in place until the end of the year, the government’s general secretary said in the statement.
“On the instructions of the president”, read the statement, “it is required of all ministers on mission abroad to finish up and return to national territory”.
Several ministers are currently abroad.
Government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo said the decision was made to reduce the cost of governance.
The measure “reinforces government efficacy while assuring an optimal management of the state’s resources”, AFP quoted him as saying.
Senior members of government departments and diplomats he noted can represent the government in foreign assignments on the approval of the head of state.
Doumbouya, a former colonel seized power in the West African country September 2021.
Following international pressure, he promised to hand over power to civilian authorities in 2024 but backtracked, saying the promise will not be fulfilled.
He is also tipped to contest as a civilian leader.
