The military-led transition government in Guinea has named an interim prime minister.
Dr. Bernard Gomou, who is the Minister of Trade, Industry and SMEs, will serve in the position in the absence of Mohamed Béavogui, who the junta said is out of the country on medical leave.
The announcement was made via a presidential decree aired on state TV late on Saturday July 16. It was signed by CNRD junta leader and President of the Transition Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya.
“Commerce and Industry Minister Bernard Gomou has been appointed acting prime minister during the period of absence of Mr. Mohamed Beavogui,” the statement read on state TV notes.
It did not say where the substantive Prime Minister is seeking treatment or what his medical condition was.
Mr Béavogui, a former top UN employee, was named to the position in October 2021 to preside over a promised transition back to democratic rule following the September 5 coup that ousted former president Alpha Conde. Lately he has been preoccupied with breaking a deadlock between the country’s political parties and civil society over the transition period. But the the discussions have been marred by boycotts of opposition activists who are unhappy with the approach of the government.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this month gave the junta up to the end of July to produce an acceptable timetable or face economic sanctions. The bloc rejected a three-year transition plan proposed by the junta.
