Staff Writer
The Namibian government has condemned the coup d’état in Guinea that culminated in the arrest of President Alpha Condé.
Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Penda Naanda, says in a statement that the government also condemns the dissolution of the country’s constitution. “Namibia is following with great concern the current developments…. as well as the closure of Guinea’s land and air borders,” Naanda says.
Namibia also strongly disapproves the lack of respect for the legitimate and democratically elected President of Guinea, and calls upon the military to respect the rule of law and the return to civilian rule. “In this regard, Namibia calls upon the citizens of Guinea not to resort to violence in addressing their concerns.”
Namibia further reiterates its unwavering support for the principle enshrined in the AU Constitutive Act, of condemning and rejecting unconstitutional changes of government.
“As such, Namibia aligns herself with the statement issued by His Excellency FelixTshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chairperson of the African Union, and H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and reiterates their call for the Peace and Security Council to address this issue as a matter of urgency.”
Naanda further says Namibia joins the international community in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of President Condé, and the return to constitutional order.
Conde was ousted on Monday by an elite army unit in a coup that drew global condemnation. The streets of Guinea’s capital, Conakry, had an uneasy calm as citizens awaited the announcement of a new government after Conde’s overthrow.
The special forces summoned Conde’s ministers and heads of government institutions to a meeting, warning that failure to attend would be considered a “rebellion”.
The takeover in the West African nation that holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves, an ore used to produce aluminium, sent prices of the metal skyrocketing to a ten-year high on Monday over fears of further supply disruption in the downstream market.
The United Nations quickly denounced the takeover, and both the African Union and West Africa’s regional bloc have threatened sanctions.
In an overnight statement, the US State Department said that violence and extra-constitutional measures could erode Guinea’s prospects for stability and prosperity.
“These actions could limit the ability of the United States and Guinea’s other international partners to support the country,” the statement reads.
Regional experts, however, says that unlike in landlocked Mali, where neighbours and partners were able to pressurise a junta after a coup, leverage on the military in Guinea could be limited because it is not landlocked, and also because it is not a member of the West African currency union.
