Guinea strongman Doumbouya retires 1,000 soldiers

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya

Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya (centre), the Guinean coup leader in Conakry on September 17, 2021. PHOTO | JOHN WESSELS | AFP

Guinea's Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in the West African nation in September, has announced that he is placing nearly 1,000 soldiers into retirement.

In a speech on Sunday evening, the strongman said the retirements will come into force on Monday and "must in no way be considered as a punishment".