By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The military junta in Guinea Conakry has proposed a shorter transition period of 24 months from 36 months to an election expected to usher in civil rule in the country, government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo announced on Friday.
The junta took power in a coup last September has been under pressure from regional blocs, particularly the ECOWAS to restore civilian rule earlier than the 39 and then 36 months proposed by interim President Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had earlier rejected the proposed 36 months transition period.
A team of ECOWAS representatives was in Guinea to discuss a more “reasonable” transition to elections earlier in the week.
The government spokesperson told reporters that the beginning of the 24-month period would be determined during a conference in December.
The junta has proposed to start the 24-month transition in January 2023, Diallo added.
ECOWAS said in a joint statement with the Guinean government that it had co-developed the 24-month timetable with Guinean authorities with an assurance that the regional body would provide technical and financial support to carry out the transition. No date was however fixed for the commencement of the period.
The bloc imposed economic sanctions on the country after the junta forcefully took power.
