Alpha Conde, Guinea’s ousted president, who has been detained by the military since the government took office last week, is in good health, a delegation from the West African Economic and Economic Council (ECOWAS) said on a visit to the country.
The visit by representatives of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Friday came as the ambassador’s insistence forced Guinean troops to retaliate on Sunday.
ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership of a 15-member body earlier this week but failed to impose further sanctions. On Friday, the African Union (AU) also announced Guinea’s suspension of “all activities and decision-making bodies”.
Representatives from ECOWAS met with rebel leader Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who arrived at the Conakry Hotel where the delegates were staying near special commandos.
ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, who was part of a delegation to Guinea’s capital, said delegates would also visit Conde.
“President Alpha Conde is fine,” he told reporters. “Since some government officials have ordered us, we will make a report.”
Burkinabe Foreign Minister Alpha Barry, another member of the delegation, confirmed that the former 83rd president was healthy.
On Wednesday, ECOWAS called for Conde’s “immediate and unconditional release”. It also calls for a “speedy return to international law” and for security forces to “keep the law”.
The visiting delegation is set to pressure the military government to appoint a reliable Prime Minister soon to help Guinea regain its constitutional mandate, a regional official told Reuters news agency on Thursday.
The US ambassador to Conakry on Friday said Guinea should “restore democracy immediately”. On Thursday, the US refused to participate in a video released by U.S. troops in Guinea’s cheering crowd as the plot unfolded on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department says a small U.S. group has participated in a gym outside Conakry.
“As a result of the security changes, it was decided that the group should not be transferred to the US embassy in Conakry. Guinean troops will be escorting Conakry to ensure that the group passes,” the department said.
Guinea’s freedom fighters have formed what they call the National Rally and Development Committee (CNRD), which has undermined the government and the law.
It also appointed regional superintendents, and on Thursday ordered the central bank and other banks to suspend all government accounts, in order to protect the state’s finances.
Doumbouya appeared on television after the terrorists and accused the Conde government of being “evil” and “violating the rights of citizens”.
He promised to open talks on forming a new government, but it is unknown when this will happen.
Faced with a similar crisis in Mali last year, ECOWAS ruled the country out of control, but withdrew after Mali’s ruling party committed to restoring civilian rule.
Conde became Guinea’s first democratically elected president in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015. But last year, he radically changed the constitution to allow him to run for a third term, which his opponents said was illegal. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara won a third term last year after changing the country’s constitution.
ECOWAS was criticized at the time by human rights activists for not keeping quiet about a third petition against Conde and Ouattara.
Adama Gaye, former director of Information for ECOWAS, said the blocyo was not effective in addressing the crisis in the region.
“They have been sleeping on the wheels of the agency instead of trying to deal with the problems in their organization,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Its 15 countries are dissatisfied with those who have been violating the law in their countries from Conde to Ouattara… [the] after the doctor’s death. ”