Via: The Washington Post
On Sept. 5, a young army officer seized power in the West African Republic of Guinea, staging the country’s third military coup since independence from France in 1958. Like previous coup leaders, Col. Mamady Doumbouya claimed to be saving the country from a corrupt, brutal dictatorship. Decrying the broken promises and corruption of the Alpha Condé government, Doumbouya dissolved the parliament, suspended the constitution and promised to restore democracy after an 18-month transition period. During that time, the military would hold power and produce a new constitution. In explaining the coup, Western media coverage has largely overlooked the historical context, ignoring the political, economic and social structures at the root of popular discontent and the roles of French colonialism, exploitation by international mining companies and Western counterterrorism initiatives in precipitating military action. Understanding that history is critical to understanding recent events.
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