With a heavy motorcade convoy, Guinean junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya has ended a day’s visit to his counterpart, Julius Maada Bio, Doctor of coups. Doumbouya is warmly welcomed by Bio and Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. They are happy to see him on Sierra Leonean soil.
The Guinean military leader was in Sierra Leone on Friday, but left back for his country on the same day. Armour cars, war-tanks, anti-aircraft machine guns, and other heavy artillery were part of Dumbouya’s entourage. Sierra Leoneans in communities on the highway between Guinea and Sierra Leone were terrified as Doumbouya rolled his convoy in combat-ready looks.
A resident in Waterloo, Amie Sesay told this press that she was in panic and fear when she for the first time Guinea’s fire power. Such move she, went on, reminded her of Sierra Leone’s 11-year civil war.
“I was heading for one of the secondary schools in Waterloo to continue my routine inspection when I saw the convoy. It was indeed terrible,” she narrated.
The discussion between the visiting head of state and President Bio remains a top secret. Many say it could be an ordinary chat while others hold a different view.
The intimacy between Bio and Doumbuya started in September last year following the overthrow of erstwhile President Alpha Conde who had already began his third-term rule at that time following an election victory.
Doumbouya steadfastly remain on the seat of the presidency despite calls by ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) to transfer power to a civilian government. Poised to reverse the coup, an ECOWAS delegation visited Guinea at a time Conde was in detention, and demanded his immediate release. the sub-regional bloc’s request was dishonoured by the khaki boys.
The detained President was however subsequently released on medical grounds and flown to France. The junta leader still remains in charge as he enjoys relative recognition and legitimacy. Conde’s third-term ambition is one of key factors that is seemingly conferring legitimacy on Doumbouya’s rule. Despite the ban, Bio was the only President that visited the Guinean military ruler after the overthrow flouting a major ECOWAS ban.
Bio’s illegal move placed Sierra Leone on slippery grounds. Doumbouya’s visit to Sierra Leone is a reciprocation of Bio’s. Sierra Leoneans are however opposed to the Guinean leader’s heavy-handedness while in Sierra Leone.
It has been constantly argued that armed with heavy arms and ammunition is not the way to go. Such act mounts to violation of Sierra Leone’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. International relations and diplomatic principles prohibit a visiting President from entering another country with a large number of armed guards.
It is the duty of the host head of state to provide security. Doumbpuya’s visit to Sierra Leone caught many by surprise:
It was unannounced, and no one expected him here at this moment. As he returns home, endless debates and discussions still hang on the visit of the Guinean President to Sierra Leone. An SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) politician who spoke on condition of anonymity made it clear that Bio should not encourage the junta leader here.
Doumbouya is not in the good books of ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States), the African Union and other respectable international organisations. He is also not in the good books of civilised and democratic countries.
The world is united in fighting against the unconstitutional removal of heads of ststes through the use of force. Military interventions in politics is out of the question, and army authorities who try it are on the wrong side of the times. World leaders are of the firm view that coups and counter-coups would only take Africa backwards.
Doumbouya, according to world leaders, is one of those who has isolated himself from the international community by overthrowing an elected government. The political situation is worsening on the Guinean leader as he is in no mood to relinquish power to civilians.
If at all there will be an election, sources say, the Guinean junta leader is ready to contest.
But, he does not remain in uniform, and run for the presidency under a free and fair electoral process for other Sierra Leoneans, Guinean President’s visit is a continuation of intimidation of Sierra Leoneans ahead of 2022 elections.
Sierra Leone’s President shares several commonalities with the Guinean military ruler. In 1992, Bio was among a group of young coupists who overthrew the government of President Joseph Saidu Momoh. A new government known as the National Provisional Ruling Council ((NPRC) was formed with Bio as information secretary and later Vice Chairman serving Captain Valentine Strasser.
Owing to his ambition for power, Bio staged another coup toppling Captain Strasser to become NPRC chairman. Bio’s seeming refusal to conduct elections, and hand over power brought him under fire. His subjection to pressure by the people of Sierra Leone is still fresh in history books.
It goes without saying that Bio’s penchant for coups would make him readily accept a coup leader in any part of the world especially in the ECOWAS and Mano River Basin.
Veteran opposition politician, name withheld, said President Bio might have enlisted Doumbouya’s support for next year’s election. Owing to his naked failures, Bio must win the election at all cost if he is to keep his head above waters. He will therefore stop at nothing to secure the political victory.