In Guinea, Doumbouya provides support in principle to his Malian counterpart Assimi Goïta

Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, the strong man of Conakry, expressed all his solidarity with his Malian counterpart, Colonel Assimi Goïta following the sanctions of ECOWAS (illustration image) REUTERS - SALIOU SAMB

Text by: Bineta Diagne

2 mins

In the aftermath of the sanctions announced by ECOWAS against Mali, the transitional president of Guinea, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, expressed his full solidarity with his Malian counterpart, Colonel Assimi Goïta.

Air and land borders will remain open with Mali, "in accordance with [the] pan-Africanist vision" of Guinea, said an official statement, read on public television Monday evening.

This support in principle suggests another showdown for ECOWAS.

Advertising

Read more

Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya claims to support a "

brother country

". However, the two soldiers did not visit each other officially. Colonel Assimi Goïta was absent during

Mamadi Doumbouya's inauguration

in October 2021. The latter "

did not officially leave the country

 " informs a source. And if exchanges between the two men exist, they are quite " 

discreet

", analyzes a diplomat.

Through this CNRD statement, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya would rather seek to "

anticipate his own fate

 " vis-à-vis ECOWAS, analyzes an observer.

Guinea is experiencing the same situation as Mali: Conakry is suspended from ECOWAS authorities, with

targeted

financial sanctions ...

To read also

: ECOWAS adopts very heavy sanctions against the junta of Mali

It is a way of saying that Guinea will not allow itself to face an institution whose decisions are perceived as unilateral and without foundation

", continues this source.

So far, the CNRD has declined most of the ECOWAS conditions: rejection of a special envoy and refusal of a six-month transition.

Goïta and Doumbouya "

 have one thing in common: both want to stay in power for

a long time, " notes a civil society actor.

Mamadi Doumbouya, who is still in a state of grace, " 

is also preparing to have strong sanctions following the forthcoming announcement on the duration of the transition

", explains political scientist Kabinet Fofana.

• Relief in Kankan, a commercial crossroads

The borders will therefore remain open between Mali and Guinea.

A situation that relieves the merchants of the city of Kankan, located on the road between Bamako and Conakry.

Traders who rejoice and support the position of the CNRD.

At the Kankan bus station, drivers, couriers and passengers rush to load trucks on their way to Mali.

Saydou Diakité conveyor is very enthusiastic.

He says he narrowly escaped unemployment with this decision from the CNRD.

Report in Kankan

RFI

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • ECOWAS

  • Guinea

  • mali

  • Mamadi Doumbouya