IPNEWS: Soldiers were still manning roadblocks in Conakry Monday, and some roads remained cut off to civilian traffic as the military spent its first full day in charge of Guinea.

In a press conference on Monday, opposition leader Cellou Diallo said he was willing to work with the junta, a major endorsement from the political class for coup leader Mamady Doumbouya.

“The CNRD (National Committee for Rally and Development) can count on the support of ANAD in the effort to build a peaceful democracy in our country. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to all Guineans inside and outside the country, whose mobilization contributed to the fall of this dictatorship, and to honour the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the advent of September 5, 2021 (date of the coup)”), said Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of the National Alliance for Change and Democracy (ANAD).

But the West African faces major political uncertainty regardless. Alpha Conde had only been re-elected for a third presidential term last November. The military has not revealed a broader plan for governing the country, other than an announcement to replace regional governors with military commanders.

Some fear that the coup will mark the return of military rule to Guinea, a country that’s no stranger to volatility.

“If this situation continues, the army may return to power because everything was already planned. Just think, we have a country where a professor (Alpha Conde) comes to power, and we are told that he is a professor of law, so there was hope in Guinea that we would experience a handover of power for the first time in the Republic of Guinea. But unfortunately, the professor was deceived by his entourage, and finally, he fell for his own trap,” François Kolié, an activist.

Mamady Doumbouya, a former French army officer, cited poverty and corruption as justification for his coup.

Putschists in Guinea released a group of political opponents of deposed President Alpha Conde on Tuesday, as the regional bloc ECOWAS prepared to discuss the turmoil in the West African nation.

Special forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya staged a coup in the mineral-rich but impoverished country on Sunday and arrested the president, sparking international condemnation.

The 83-year-old president was under fire for perceived authoritarianism, with dozens of opposition activists arrested after a violently disputed election last year.

An AFP journalist saw about 20 prisoners freed from prison in the capital of Conakry on Tuesday evening, including prominent opposition activists.

Lawyers representing the detainees said that 79 people had been cleared for release in discussions with the military.

The military released a communique on Monday urging the justice ministry to accelerate the release of “political detainees”.

Doumbouya on Tuesday also repeated a pledge to hold talks on forming a new government.

“The government to be installed will be that of national unity and will ensure this political transition,” he tweeted.

Sunday’s coup triggered broad diplomatic condemnation including from the United States, European Union, African Union, and the West African bloc ECOWAS with calls for Conde’s release.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is due to hold a virtual extraordinary summit to discuss the crisis on Wednesday.

Russia also said it wanted Guinean institutions restored “as soon as possible”.

“We expect in any case that the interests of our businessmen will not be affected,” a Kremlin spokesman said.

Russian aluminum giant Rusal has a presence in Guinea, which is one of the world’s poorest countries despite its major reserves of bauxite, a mineral used in aluminum production.

President George Manneh Weah on Monday, September 6, 2021, ordered national security forces here to be on the alert, mandating that they increase their vigilance and visibility along the border with Guinea as the situation remains fluid.

President Weah also ordered that usual patrols must be strengthened by the relevant security forces who already have a presence in the bordering areas.

Chairing an emergency session of the National Security Council called Monday to examine the security and political ramifications that the military and political crises in neighboring Guinea could have on Liberia, Weah opined that these measures are intended to protect Liberia’s territorial integrity and put the country in potential readiness to address any possible border influx of Guinean citizens who might want to seek refuge in the country.

The Liberian President further mandated the National Security Forces of Liberia to increase their vigilance and visibility along the border with Guinea as the situation remains fluid.

President Weah ordered that usual patrols must be strengthened by the relevant security forces who already have presence in the bordering areas.

Chairing an emergency session of the National Security Council called Monday to examine the security and political ramifications that the military and political crises in neighboring Guinea could have on Liberia, the Commander in Chief- of the Armed Forces of Liberia said these measures are intended to protect Liberia’s territorial integrity and put the country in potential readiness to address any possible border influx of Guinean Citizens who might want to seek refuge in the country.

President Weah remains engaged with his fellow West African Leaders under the framework of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS in intervening to end the security and political impasse in neighboring Guinea.

The Liberian Leader has since expressed concern over the military takeover in Conakry and called for the strict adherence to ECOWAS Protocols on Democracy and Good Governance which abhor such unconstitutional ascendency to state power in the ECOWAS Sub-region.

In a related report on Guinea, an extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS is scheduled to be held Thursday, September 9, 2021, in Accra, Ghana with President Dr. George M. Weah expected to be in attendance. The Summit is to review the security and political crises in Guinea and adopt a common approach and strategy in the regional body’s intervention.

President Weah remains engaged with his fellow West African Leaders under the framework of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS in intervening to end the security and political impasse in neighboring Guinea.

Earlier, the Liberian leader call Liberia – In the wake of an apparent Coup D’etat in neighboring Guinea, the President of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah has expressed deep concern about unfolding political development and called on all sides in the ongoing political situation to refrain from violence, uphold the rule of law and ensure calm.

The Liberian Leader made the call on Sunday, September 5, 2021 following reports of gunfire in the Guinean capital, Conakry.

President Weah is also calling for the immediate release of President Alpha Condé, who has reportedly been detained by soldiers staging a revolt against his rule.

The Liberian Chief Executive reiterated the Liberian government’s support for the position of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and called on military leaders in Guinea to adhere to the tenets of civilian rule and democracy.

President Weah reminded all concerned of the need for peace and security, adding that violence and political instability in Guinea will have negative ramifications for the entire region.

Earlier, the Liberian Leader on Monday, September 6, 2021, expressed concern over the military takeover in Conakry and called for the strict adherence to ECOWAS Protocols on Democracy and Good Governance which abhor such unconstitutional ascendency to state power in the ECOWAS Sub-region.