Mamady Doumbouya during his swearing in ceremony
Monday 4th Oct.2021: Born in the Kankan border region near Côte d'Ivoire and Mali, Mamady Doumbouya first became known to Guineans in 2018 when he appeared at a military parade in Conakry to celebrate the country’s 60th independence anniversary.
He was put in charge of the newly formed SFG elite team – whose remit was to fight terrorism and maritime piracy. Wearing red berets, sunglasses and striking uniforms, they made a strong public impression.
Doumbouya, 41, was in the French Foreign Legion, where he rose to the rank of master corporal before being called to command the SFG.
A graduate from the École de Guerre war college in Paris, he has more than 15 years of military experience that include missions to Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, the Central African Republic, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Doumbouya is an expert in defence management, command and strategy – having also undergone specialist training in Israel, Senegal and Gabon.
A spokesperson from Guinea’s Ministry of Defence described him as a "colossus with an impressive physique".
Popular for being draped in a Guinean flag when making public speeches since he took over government in the west African country, Doumbouya announced the arrest of ousted president Alpha Condé 83, the dissolution of Guinea’s institutions, the suspension of the constitution while regional political leaders were to be replaced by garrison commanders and ministers were summoned to a meeting.
Doumbouya who has granted several interviews since his takeover has always maintained that the army did not want to “play games”, but to ensure that all Guineans could live together and “enjoy the benefits” of the country.
He added “The whole army is here from Nzérékoré to Conakry to help rebuild this country,” he said, adding that former president Condé was safe and had access to doctors.
“We have all of the security forces behind us to end the misery of the Guinean people once and for all.”
On the 1st October 2021 he was sworn in as interim president of Guinea, it woud be recalled that Doumbouya led a coup d’etat on 5th September 2021 that overthrew the previous president,Alpha Conde
On the day of the coup, Doumbouya issued a broadcast on state television declaring that his faction had dissolved the government and constitution. . He also said that the “National Committee of Reconciliation and Development" (CNRD), was forced to take its responsibility" after "the dire political-situation of our country, the instrumentalization of the judiciary, the non-respect of democratic principles, the extreme politicization of public administration, as well as poverty and corruption." In justifying the military's actions, Doumbouya quoted the former Ghanaian president Jerry Rawlings, who said that "if the people are crushed by their elites, it is up to the army to give the people their freedom."
He was one of 25 officials from Guinea that the European Union threatened to sanction over allegations of human rights abuses.
In May 2021, there were rumours stemming from the government of a possible arrest of Doumbouya while he was in Conakry on unknown accusations or charges.
Doumbouya who is married to a French woman who is an active duty member of the French National Gendarmerie and has three children maintained after his swearing in as president atMohammed V Palacefr that he plans to "refound the state" through a new constitution, tackling corruption, introducing "free, credible and transparent" elections and respecting "all the national and international commitments to which the country has subscribed". He is however barred from contesting future elections, because of plans to restore civilian rule.
