The mass dismissal includes a senior officer who was part of the 2021 military takeover that brought Doumbouya to power.

Conakry, Guinea (Running Africa) — Guinea has dismissed 173 military personnel over alleged desertion, including a senior officer who played a visible role in the 2021 coup that brought President Mamadi Doumbouya to power.

The dismissals were announced in a presidential decree broadcast on national television and affect personnel from several branches of the Guinean armed forces.

Authorities have not provided detailed public explanations of the circumstances surrounding the alleged desertions or whether further disciplinary or legal action will follow.

Among those removed is Colonel Michel Lamah, a former member of Guinea’s elite Special Forces Group who became a recognizable figure associated with the September 2021 overthrow of then-President Alpha Condé.

Guinea Dismisses 173 Military Personnel Over Alleged Desertion

The presidential decree removes 173 members of the armed forces from military service over accusations of desertion.

The scale of the dismissals makes the move a significant shake-up within Guinea’s security establishment.

Those affected come from multiple branches of the military, although authorities have released limited information about individual cases or the circumstances under which the personnel allegedly abandoned their duties.

The decree comes as Doumbouya continues to consolidate authority over Guinea’s government and security institutions following the political transition that began with the 2021 coup.

Colonel Michel Lamah Among Officers Dismissed

The most prominent name among those removed is Colonel Michel Lamah, formerly of the elite Special Forces Group.

Lamah gained national and international attention during the September 2021 military takeover that removed Alpha Condé from power.

He was photographed traveling in a vehicle carrying Condé after the president was detained by soldiers, making Lamah one of the visible figures associated with the dramatic events surrounding the coup.

His dismissal is particularly notable given his prior involvement in the military operation that ultimately brought Doumbouya to power.

Michel Lamah Was Prominent Figure in Guinea’s 2021 Coup

The 2021 takeover marked a major turning point in Guinea’s politics.

Doumbouya, then commander of the Special Forces Group, led soldiers who detained Condé and dissolved the government.

The coup followed growing political tensions surrounding Condé’s controversial third presidential term and widespread dissatisfaction with his administration.

Lamah’s association with the operation placed him within the military circle that helped establish the new political order.

His removal from the armed forces more than four years later is therefore likely to attract particular scrutiny.

Doumbouya Consolidates Power After Transition From Military Rule

Following the coup, Doumbouya initially pledged to oversee a transition back to civilian government and indicated that he would not participate in future elections.

He later reversed that position and contested Guinea’s December presidential election.

Doumbouya secured a landslide victory after major opposition parties were excluded from the race, formally extending his leadership beyond the military-led transition.

The political developments have raised questions over Guinea’s democratic trajectory and the balance of power between civilian institutions and the security establishment.

Military Shake-Up Puts Focus on Guinea’s Armed Forces

The dismissal of 173 personnel comes at a time when Doumbouya continues to reshape the institutions that underpin his government.

Large-scale changes within the military are particularly significant in Guinea, where the armed forces have repeatedly played a decisive role in political transitions.

Authorities have presented the dismissals as disciplinary action over alleged desertion, but the inclusion of a prominent figure from the 2021 coup is likely to generate wider political interest.

No detailed explanation has been provided for Lamah’s alleged desertion or whether his dismissal is connected to any broader investigation.

Dismissal of 2021 Coup Figure Draws Attention

For many observers, Colonel Lamah’s removal will be the most closely watched aspect of the latest military shake-up.

Once publicly associated with the operation that helped propel Doumbouya to power, he now leaves the armed forces under a presidential decree issued by the same administration that emerged from that takeover.

The broader dismissal of 173 Guinean military personnel also signals continued changes within the country’s security establishment.

As Doumbouya strengthens his authority following his transition from coup leader to elected president, the restructuring of Guinea’s armed forces, and particularly the fate of figures once central to his rise, is likely to remain an important part of the country’s evolving political landscape.