A SPECIAL court in Guinea has sentenced former prime minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana to five years in prison after finding him guilty of corruption and embezzlement. According to the Associated Press (AP), the court also imposed a 2 billion Guinean franc ($230,000) fine on Fofana for misappropriating public funds.
Corruption charges and conviction
Fofana, who served as prime minister under former President Alpha Condé from 2018 to 2021, was convicted of embezzling up to 15 billion Guinean francs ($1.7 million) from government social welfare programs, including funds allocated for Covid-19 relief.
His case was prosecuted by Guinea’s Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offenses, a special tribunal established after the military seized power in September 2021. The junta, led by Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, vowed to crack down on corruption in the country following the ousting of Condé’s administration.
A controversial trial and denied medical appeal
Fofana has been detained since April 2022 and denied all charges, calling the prosecution politically motivated. His lawyers argued that the case was a witch hunt orchestrated by the ruling junta.
His trial, which lasted for years, was repeatedly delayed due to his deteriorating health. Despite multiple requests for medical treatment abroad, the court refused to grant permission.
Guinea’s political landscape and junta rule
Guinea is one of several West African nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where military takeovers have delayed a return to civilian rule.
Following his coup in 2021, Col. Doumbouya condemned the previous government’s failures, promising to eliminate corruption and restore good governance. However, human rights groups warn that his regime has increasingly suppressed political opposition and civil liberties.
Fofana is among several high-profile officials from the Condé administration facing legal action. His conviction signals the junta’s intent to enforce its anti-corruption agenda, but critics question whether the trials are truly about justice—or consolidating power.
