ECOWAS envoys meet Guinea coup leaders, say Conde in good health

Delegation from West Africa’s main bloc meet Guinea’s overthrown President Alpha Conde and the new military rulers who removed him.

Source: Al Jazeera News

Alpha Conde, the overthrown Guinean president who has been detained by soldiers since last week’s coup, is in good health, envoys from West Africa’s main political and economic bloc ECOWAS have said during a mission to the country.

The visit by the delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Friday came as diplomatic pressure mounted on Guinea’s ruling military in the wake of Sunday’s power grab.

ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership to the 15-member bloc earlier this week but stopped short of imposing further sanctions. On Friday, the African Union (AU) also announced the suspension of Guinea from all bloc “activities and decision-making bodies”.

Mediators from ECOWAS met coup leader Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who arrived at the Conakry hotel where the envoys were staying flanked by special forces commandos.

ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, who was part of the delegation to the Guinean capital, said that mediators had also seen Conde.

“President Alpha Conde is well,” he told reporters. “Because we are mandated by the other heads of state, we are going to make a report.”

Burkinabe Foreign Minister Alpha Barry, another delegation member, confirmed that the 83-year-old former leader was in good health.

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