Alpha Condé at the heart of a diplomatic imbroglio between Guinea and Turkey

In Guinea, the transitional power demands the return from exile of Alpha Condé. Since the end of May, the former president has been based in Turkey.

Will Alpha Condé return to Guinea? Exiled since May 21, the former president thought he was safe in Turkey. On May 21, a real exfiltration operation took place: helped by the Turkish conglomerate Albayrak, Alpha Condé was able to find a plane chartered by the latter, which then took him to Turkey. Since then, the former head of state has been free to move around. He even received, during the holidays of the Congolese President, Denis Sassou N'Guesso.

But Mamadi Doumbouya, who had let the former president go to the United Arab Emirates for treatment, does not carry Alpha Condé in his heart. Especially since the leak of a recording in which he invites his former party to wake up. Condé was under close surveillance in Conakry. He finally escaped the vigilance of the power to save himself. The Guinean junta seemed to have dropped the Condé case to focus on current affairs. But an article by Jeune Afrique, a magazine close to Alpha Condé, the soldiers went into a black rage: they want Alpha Condé to live abroad, but want him to remain discreet.

Upcoming Talks

However, the fact that Alpha Condé pours out in the press, as an informant, provoked the desire of Conakry to bring back the ex-president. And on September 7, Albayrak received a visit from the military. According to the local press, the Guinean government gave the conglomerate three days to organize Alpha Condé's return trip. But this one is still, today, in Turkey.

Transitional President Mamadi Doumbouya has not yet launched a major diplomatic offensive. Its demands on the Albayrak company have not, for the moment, given rise to direct discussions with Ankara on the subject.

However, if Alpha Condé does not return to his country, Doumbouya will certainly have to go through Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish president has necessarily validated the exfiltration of Alpha Condé. And he is strong enough not to give in to the demands of the Guinean regime.

Still, Turkish-Guinean diplomacy risks suffering from these episodes. Talks will necessarily be initiated by the two countries. And Erdoğan could well agree to send Condé back to other countries so as not to anger Conakry. Sources close to Turkey assure that the Turkish ambassador to Guinea should soon meet the military junta. The president of Congo-Brazzaville could also intervene, after his meeting with Alpha Condé a few weeks ago.