In protest of Alpha Conde’s and others’ arrest, the party of Guinea’s former leader Alpha Conde announced its withdrawal from a national reconciliation summit on Thursday.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya took over as Guinea’s first democratically elected president after Conde was ousted by army commanders last year.

A six-week reconciliation conference was begun by Doumbouya in late March and hailed as a chance to repair ancient scars, but some significant political organisations boycotted it.

“Deliberately maintained uncertainty” about the position of Conde was cited as a factor in Rally of the Guinean People’s (RPG) choice not to participate.

He was granted permission to go to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment and returned to Guinea on April 10.

Conde’s “complete and unconditional freedom” is still a top priority for RPG authorities, who claim he was never fully free before his trip or after his return.

Recent detentions of high-profile individuals include those of other important persons.

After Conde’s May 2018 coup, three former cabinet members, including ex-prime minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, were imprisoned on embezzlement accusations.

Protesting what they termed the “arbitrary detention of their colleagues,” RPG called on the court system to uphold the presumption of innocence.

After a year of demonstrations against the Conde’s successful third-term attempt, a plan opponents felt violated the constitution, a coup was staged.

Since taking the helm as temporary president, Doumbouya has pledged to restore civilian government, but has resisted international pressure to put a timeline on it.

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