Title: The contrasting reactions in Guinea following the position of the junta in Niger
Introduction :
The Guinean junta, led by Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, recently expressed its support for its Nigerien counterpart following the July 26 takeover. This position taken by the National Committee for Unity and Development (CNRD), the ruling body of the junta in Guinea, provoked contrasting reactions in the country. Some support this position, seeing it as an affirmation of Guinean sovereignty, while others criticize it, arguing that the junta does not have the legitimacy to engage the Guinean people in confrontations with regional institutions.
Support for Niger and the assertion of Guinean sovereignty:
Some Guinean political actors have welcomed the CNRD’s position in favor of the Nigerien junta. Ansoumane Fofana, president of the Republican Party for Renewal, considers that this position confirms Guinea’s sovereignty and demonstrates a neutral foreign policy based on pan-Africanism. He warns the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) indicating that any intervention in Niger would be considered an act of war or a provocation.
Criticisms and questioning of the legitimacy of the Guinean junta:
On the other hand, some members of the Guinean opposition, such as Cellou Baldé of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) and the National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy (Anad), believe that the junta does not does not have the legitimacy to drag Guinea into confrontations with regional institutions. They recall that the junta has subscribed to a 24-month political transition agenda for the return to constitutional order, and that any attempt to confiscate power or not respect the deadlines would be an attack on this agreement.
A possible desire to create a union within ECOWAS:
Some voices, such as that of Cellou Baldé, put forward the idea that the juntas of Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are seeking to create a union within ECOWAS, which would constitute a dangerous precedent for democracy and the rule of law. This hypothesis raises concerns about the political evolution of the region and the consolidation of military powers.
Conclusion :
The position taken by the Guinean junta in support of its Nigerien counterpart provoked contrasting reactions in Guinea. While some see this as an affirmation of the country’s sovereignty, others question the junta’s legitimacy to engage the Guinean people in regional confrontations. In addition, concerns have been raised about a possible desire to create a union within ECOWAS by the juntas in the region.. These events underscore the importance of closely monitoring the political situation in West Africa and its regional implications