Guinea’s junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, has promoted himself to the rank of army general as the coup-stricken West African nation commemorated the founding of its powerful armed forces.
Doumbouya, 43, seized power by force in September 2021, overthrowing President Alpha Conde, who had appointed the then-colonel to lead an elite unit tasked with protecting the head of state from precisely such coups.
In a decree issued on Friday evening, Doumbouya — whose supporters have encouraged him to stand for president when the junta eventually steps down — was also awarded the Grand Cross of the National Order of the Colatier, Guinea’s highest honour.
This recognition was granted for “his ongoing efforts to promote social cohesion and cooperation between communities.”
Doumbouya is one of several military leaders who have taken power in West Africa since 2020, joining others in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Under Doumbouya’s rule, Guinea has seen a continued crackdown on dissent, with numerous opposition leaders detained, brought before the courts, or driven into exile.
Despite its abundant natural resources, Guinea remains a poverty-stricken nation that has been governed by authoritarian or dictatorial regimes for decades.