In Guinea, a year after the coup that overthrew Alpha Condé, the military in power, led by Mamadi Doumbouya, wanted to give this day of September 5 "a special setting",...

Guinea: day marked by a ceremony but also anger, one year after the coup

Audio 01:22

Mamadi Doumbouya, the transitional president of Guinea.

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

In Guinea, a year after the coup that overthrew Alpha Condé, the military in power, led by Mamadi Doumbouya, wanted to give this day of September 5 "

a special setting

", despite a mixed record.

The country is going through an economic crisis with a sharp rise in prices and political tensions are high.

Throughout the day, demonstrations at the call of the FNDC have also turned into a confrontation between activists and the security forces.

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With our special correspondent in Conakry,

Guillaume Thibault

Despite the difficulties, the CNRD organized a ceremony, with concerts and speeches, at the People's Palace.

The young crowd set the mood for the day.

Despite the means to mobilize – t-shirts, caps bearing the image of Mamadi Doumbouya – the immense esplanade of the People's Palace was far from being full.

Alcény, singer in the making, did not want to miss the event for anything in the world: “

Mamadi Doumbouya, it's like us.
We are together.
We took our destiny into our own hands.

Despite his difficulties in walking, leaning on his cane, Ibrahima Diallo salutes the “

warriors

” who took power a year ago: “

They are young people, determined to help this country.

Present alongside the Prime Minister, the President of the National Transition Council, Dansa Kourouma, came to recall the role of the institutions: "

Beyond this festive character which is spontaneous, we, as players in this transition, are aware that we must leave traces.
This is the fundamental mission that the President of the Republic has assigned to all those involved in the transition and we have taken an oath to do so

Bakary, political activist, 100% supports Mamadi Doumbouya and calls to stand up for Guinea: “

I will tell everyone to stand up as one.
Guinea will be made by the Guineans.
This is why we fight every day.

Demonstrations suppressed

A year ago, to the day, on September 5, 2021, the CNRD overthrew President Alpha Condé, a symbolic date for which the FNDC called for a demonstration, this Monday, in Conakry.

The organization of civil society, now banned, calls for a return to constitutional order.

On the Axis, the expressway that crosses the Guinean capital, the traditional centers of protest have followed the death of order.

Shortly after 9 a.m. this morning, the first clashes broke out at Bambeto store, says our correspondent in Conakry,

Matthias Raynal

Groups of young people faced the police, scattering as soon as an officer fired a tear gas canister at them.

A resident of Koloma testifies.

At the end of the afternoon, he was cloistered at home: “

In the neighborhood, here, the soldiers are there, with guns.
They shoot live ammunition.

A father from a neighboring neighborhood managed to leave his home in the afternoon to buy food.

Despite everything, he sides with the protesters: “

The demonstrations, I support them.
I am 100% for.
Only, where I do not agree, it is the way in which the State represses.
Demonstrations are legal.
It is authorized by the Constitution, and why not frame them?

The neighborhoods of Sonfonia, or even Cosa, were also affected by the protest movement.

At least one policeman was injured, several young people were arrested.

The situation remained under control on Monday, assures the spokesperson for the Ministry of Security.

Guinea: day marked by a ceremony but also anger, one year after the coup

Guinea: day marked by a ceremony but also anger, one year after the coup

Demonstrations suppressed

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