Guinea agrees to shorter transitional timeline of 24 months

​​​​​​KIGALI, Rwanda

Guinea's military government has agreed on a shorter timeline for a transition to elections of 24 months, down from 36, a West African bloc said Saturday.

In a statement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it agreed with the junta leaders on a 24-month timeline after discussions with a team of the bloc’s representatives led by the mediator for Guinea, Benin’s former President Thomas Boni Yayi.

“After fruitful discussions with the competent transitional authorities, the government of Guinea is in favor of the new timetable for a return to constitutional order,” the statement said.

The mediator reiterated “ECOWAS' solidarity with the Guinean people and thanked the President of the Transition for validating the 24-month timetable.”

Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, promised he would rally international partners to support the transition process.

The junta for its part committed to working with ECOWAS to ensure a peaceful and inclusive transition, according to the statement.

The transitional authorities also requested technical and financial support during the process.

Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, a government spokesman, said the military proposed to start the 24-month transition period in January 2023.

The military led by Col. Mamady Doumbouya had initially proposed restoring democratic rule after 36 months, a timeline which was rejected by regional leaders as unreasonable.

At an extraordinary summit in New York, ECOWAS had asked Guinean authorities to accept within a month from Sept. 22 as a reasonable and acceptable transition period.

The bloc also decided on targeted sanctions against individuals and groups of people in the government. The sanctions include the freezing of financial assets and a travel ban.

Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Conde last September.