The repatriation to Guinea of the mortal remains of the former First Lady of the Republic, Hadja Djènè Kaba Condé creates a standoff between Pr Alpha Condé and his killer of September 5, 2021 (Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya).
In an article entitled: “Mamadi Doumbouya and Alpha Condé, showdown around the death of the former first lady”, Jeune Afrique relates behind the scenes.
According to the pan-African weekly (Jeune Afrique), “on April 8, the day of the death of Djénè Kaba Condé in Paris, Mamadi Doumbouya published a press release on behalf of the Presidency of the Republic to announce the disappearance of the former first lady “following illness” and to offer her condolences. And this, without mentioning the name of Alpha Condé, which aroused the astonishment or even the ire of those around him. Being still deprived of his passports and unable, in fact, to move, the former president has the firm intention of keeping control of his wife’s funeral from his Turkish exile. »
In relation to Itinerary privileged, the newspaper returns to the message that Alpha Condé addressed to the ambassador of Guinea in France, Senkoun Sylla who specified: “Please do not in any case involve the authorities of Guinea in the funeral of my wife and not get involved. »
“According to his close friends, Alpha Condé wishes to have the remains repatriated without going through Conakry, so as not to have to solicit the authorities of his country, who propose to take charge directly of the return of the body via the capital. Mamadi Doumbouya’s predecessor favors a transfer to Istanbul, before returning to Kankan, his wife’s hometown, by road and via Bamako. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also offered to lend one of his planes to his host. Djénè Kaba Condé having French nationality at the time of his death, this simplifies, from a legal point of view, his exit from French territory. The former head of state mobilized the Franco-Malian lawyer Tidiani Guindo to facilitate the repatriation of the body according to the planned route. Which remains provisional, because it has not yet been officially validated, ”reveals Jeune Afrique.
Regarding the repatriation of the remains, he (Jeune Afrique) mentions that for the moment, “the situation is blocked at several levels. Indeed, without siding with Mamadi Doumbouya, the three children of Djénè Kaba Condé, from a first marriage, do not want their mother’s body, which is still in the American hospital in Paris, to pass by Turkey. Another problem: it was united religiously to the former president and not civilly, which might complicate the procedure in France. In addition, the authorities must necessarily grant authorization to enter Guinean territory, otherwise they will be blocked at the border. According to those close to Alpha Condé, this does not affect the great determination of the ex-president, who assures them that the remains will enter via Mali “willingly or by force. The latter has also received many messages of condolence, from his former opponent Cellou Dalein Diallo, but also from his ex-counterparts, like Denis Sassou Nguesso, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, George Weah, Alassane Ouattara or even Macky Sall. Very combative and in good shape, Alpha Condé does not seem, still according to those around him, affected by the trials. On the contrary, he is determined to launch a political offensive following Ramadan and to open a new front on the occasion of the repatriation of his wife if the latter is blocked by the authorities. He and Mamadi Doumbouya indeed reproach each other for wanting to exploit the death of Djénè Kaba Condé, who is from Kankan, as the president of the transition. The current instability in the capital of Upper Guinea is indeed a political issue. Power cuts have led to well-attended protests since the end of March. Mamadi Doumbouya therefore fears that his predecessor will add fuel to the fire, while the latter suspects the president of the transition of wanting to take advantage of the funeral of the former first lady to try to ease tensions. »
Youl Keita
