Guinea Junta Traces US$1.2billion Wealth to Defense Minister in Corruption Probe

The military junta in Guinea that ousted the government of Alpha Conde in a coup d’état, has reportedly traced a suspicious US$1.2billion wealth to Conde’s Minister of Defense, Dr. Mohamed Diané.

Diane’ who was also in charge of Presidential Affairs is one of many Conde regime actors who has come under corruption investigation by the National Committee for Rally and Development (CNRD), led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya,

The CNRD has reportedly said it has built a dossier on Diane’s acquisition in public office with the dizzying cornucopia of personal enrichments including US$60million in cash collected from his cellar.

Dr. Diane’ is also said to own 47 villas and 53 buildings.

“We are delivering here the dossier that we have just completed on the case of the former Minister of Defense and in charge of presidential affairs, Doctor Mohamed Diané. Here are the elements identified…” a message said to have been intercepted from the junta read.

The list given includes, “US$ 60 million (600 billion Guinean francs) cash collected in the cellar of his personal home; 75.8 kg of 22-karat gold worth nearly 40 billion Guinean francs; 17 2-carat diamonds worth nearly 10 billion Guinean francs; 47 villas between the Camayenne district and Kagbélén and – 53 buildings: including 35 in Conakry, 4 in Kindia, 7 in Kankan, 3 in Labé, 4 in N’Zérékoré”

Others are, “18 new luxury cars; 75 bare plots in Conakry, 200 hectares in Dubréka; 

1500 hectares in Forécariah; 2000 hectares in Kankan; 7 hotels; 25 bread ovens; 7 bottled water production plants and 16 poultry farms with more than 2 million chicks in total.”

The message added that “All this for a total of $ 1.2 billion “.

According to the intercepted message, several Conde appointees are being investigated for corruption, indicating evidence had been found against them.

Apparently, the corruption probe is the reason the junta refused to allow the 83-year-old Conde to leave the country after ECOWAS, through its Chairman, President Akufo Addo had tried to persuade the ruling soldiers of Guinea to let Conde slip out of the country.

Conde’s overthrow means Guinea’s first-ever democratically elected President could not keep himself in power. And it has been generally said that the man was the architect of his own downfall.

Despite some minor improvements, basic services such as electricity and running water remain a luxury in Guinea. The country’s roads are in terrible shape, perhaps the worst in West Africa. And despite being the world’s second-largest producer of bauxite, this vast mineral wealth has seemed to benefit only a handful of individuals in Condé’s orbit, writes Sidy‌ ‌Yansané‌ a freelance journalist based in Guinea.

Conde met his Waterloo when he dubiously changed Guinea’s constitution to allow him to run for a third term