This archive report was first published on 15 September 2021.
Guinea's military leaders have kicked off a four-day national consultation to determine the country's future, despite growing international pressure to return power to civilians.
The consultation, which began on September 14 and will run until September 17, aims to build consensus for the transition to democracy, according to a statement issued by the National Committee for Rally and Development (CNRD) junta.
Representatives of key socioeconomic and political players, including political parties, civil society organizations, diplomats, religious and traditional leaders, and business executives, will meet with the coup leaders to discuss the country's future.
The meetings will be chaired by coup leader Lt-Col Mamady Doumbouya and will be held at the Palais du Peuple in Conakry.
On September 5, Lt-Col Doumbouya led a group of special-forces soldiers to seize power in the West African nation, ending the 11-year rule of President Alpha Conde, whom they accused of corruption and maladministration.
Conde has been in custody since the coup, despite appeals to free him by the West African regional bloc Ecowas, the African Union, and the United Nations.
While the junta says this week's meetings are designed to hear the views of the people on the future of Guinea, analysts say they will also shed light on the kind of transitional government the military has in mind.
