Guinea’s new junta leaders seek to tighten grip on power

Guinea’s new military leaders sought to tighten their grip on power Monday after overthrowing President Alpha Conde, ordering the soldiers from his presidential guard to now join the junta forces and barring government officials from leaving the country.

After putting the West African nation back under military rule for the first time in over a decade, the junta already had dissolved the National Assembly and the country’s constitution. On Monday, regional military commanders replaced Guinea’s governors as the junta solidified its hold on power.

Junta leader Col. Mamady Doumbouya said the new military regime would not pursue vendettas against political enemies, though he also instructed the officials he’d summoned from Conde’s deposed government to turn over their passports immediately.

“There will be no spirit of hatred or revenge. There will be no witch hunt,” said Doumbouya, addressing officials in a red beret and dark sunglasses beside a throng of armed