Mohamed Diane, a former defence minister in Guinea, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a special court on charges of corruption, illicit enrichment, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Diane, who served under ex-President Alpha Condé from 2015 until the military takeover in 2021, was also fined $58.5 million, £46 million.
The court ordered the seizure of his assets, including bank accounts and properties in Conakry and Kankan, citing their unexplained origins.
The case is part of an anti-corruption campaign launched by Guinea’s military junta, which has been in power since a coup d’état in 2021. Diane has been in detention since May 2022.
The junta, led by Gen Mamady Doumbouya, established a special anti-corruption court shortly after taking power. Fighting corruption has been a stated priority for the regime in Guinea, one of West Africa’s poorest nations.
In late 2022, the military government demanded legal action against over 180 former officials, including ex-ministers and former President Condé.
While the junta initially enjoyed public support, many Guineans now accuse it of suppressing dissent and targeting opposition figures, particularly those affiliated with the former administration.
Gen Doumbouya previously assured the nation that the campaign against corruption would not become a “witch hunt.”
The junta initially proposed a two-year transition to democratic governance starting in 2022. However, with the promised transition period ending this year, there has been little progress toward organizing elections or holding a referendum on the draft constitution.
In July, a draft constitution was introduced, sparking speculation that Gen Doumbouya may seek to contest the presidency in future elections, which remain unscheduled.
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