A Guinean court sentenced former Defence Minister Mohamed Diane to five years in prison on Wednesday, convicting him of embezzlement, illicit enrichment, money laundering, and corruption of public officials. The ruling comes as part of ongoing efforts by Guinea’s ruling military junta to tackle corruption within the country.
Diane, who served as defence minister under former civilian President Alpha Conde from 2015 to 2021, has been incarcerated since May 2022. The court also imposed a fine of 505 billion Guinean francs (approximately $58.5 million) as restitution to the state, alongside the confiscation of his properties in Conakry and Kankan, and the seizure of his bank accounts, both domestic and foreign.
The trial, held in a special court for financial crimes (CRIEF), marks the latest in a series of legal actions against former government officials and political figures. Diane’s detention follows the military coup that brought the junta to power in 2021, which has pledged to eradicate widespread corruption in Guinea.
The ruling is part of a broader crackdown that has seen the junta target former President Conde, along with over 180 former officials, accusing them of corruption. While General Mamady Doumbouya, the junta leader, has assured there will be no witch hunts, critics argue that the political repression and manipulation of the justice system continue under the current regime.
Despite Diane’s detention since 2022, he had not been formally questioned by CRIEF until the recent trial. The sentencing further shows the junta’s determination to address corruption, though opposition parties have voiced concerns about the suppression of political freedoms.
