Guinea's new prime minister has indicated that the generals who seized power in a 2021 coup will delay a return to civilian rule until at least 2025.
Amadou Ouli Barr, who was appointed by the military two weeks ago, is the first senior official to suggest the junta may not be able to fulfill its promise to transfer power by the end of 2024.
Regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had been pressuring the military to hold elections by the end of the year.
However, given the lack of progress towards transferring power and the turbulent domestic situation, this is becoming increasingly unlikely.
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“There are many contingencies,” the prime minister told Radio France Internationale in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.
“Against the backdrop of economic and financial fragility, we must strive to stabilize and ease the political situation so that we can look at and follow the calendar steps with relative calm.”
“So the goal is to complete it and I think 2025 is a good time to culminate the whole process,” he added.
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Ouli Barr said the West African country faces “many challenges related to the dire situation.”
He was referring to an explosion at the country's main oil depot in December that killed 25 people and severely disrupted economic activity.
The prime minister also said the situation was worsening due to inflation and its “impact on the lives of Guineans who are struggling to make ends meet.”
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Guinea is poor despite rich mineral and natural resources, but has endured decades of authoritarian rule and suffers from fuel shortages and power outages.
Last month's general strike demanded lower food prices, an end to media censorship and the release of journalists.
This is the first such move under the ruling military government, which has banned demonstrations and blocked critics.
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General Mamadi Doumbouya has ruled Guinea since September 2021, when he overthrew the country's first democratically elected president, Alpha Condé.
Under international pressure, the junta has pledged to return the reins of power to elected civilians by the end of 2024 after a so-called transition period.
The new prime minister reiterated his insistence that far-reaching reforms are needed to end chronic instability.
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“Guinea needs appeasement, we need a significant de-escalation of tensions,” Ouli Barr said, acknowledging there would be “some delays”.
The prime minister said a referendum on constitutional amendments is expected to be held by the end of the year.
“Other electoral processes will follow suit,” he added.
“The leadership that runs Guinea wants Guinea to be a normal country again,” the prime minister said, denying that his government was trying to cling to power.
Since 2020, West Africa has been rocked by a series of military coups.
Mali's ruling military junta has failed to keep its promise to leave power in early 2024, while Burkina Faso's junta has said holding previously promised summer elections is not a “priority”.
After seizing power in July 2023, Niger's military declared a transition period of approximately three years, but has not returned to this commitment since then.
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