CONAKRY — Colonel Mamady Doumbouya has been sworn is as Guinea’s interim president after leading a coup which saw the overthrow of Alpha Condé.
The former French legionnaire, 41, becomes Africa’s second-youngest leader, after Mali’s Assimi Goïta, 38, who also staged a military takeover.
Doumbouya is barred from contesting future elections under plans to restore civilian rule announced this week.
The Sept. 5 coup has been widely condemned.
Both West Africa body Ecowas and the African Union have suspended Guinea.
Ecowas also imposed sanctions against the coup leaders and demanded a return to constitutional order within six months.
Speaking at the Mohammed V palace in Conakry, the new president said his mission was to “refound the state” by writing a new constitution, tackling corruption, changing the electoral system and putting in place “free, credible and transparent” elections.
He also promised to “respect all the national and international commitments to which the country has subscribed”. (BBC)
