Guinea's junta releases transition charter toward elections

Guinea’s military junta has released a transitional charter that outlines the missions and duties of the transitional government and bars any members of the junta from running in elections that will e

Guinea’s military junta has released a transitional charter that outlines the missions and duties of the transitional government and bars any members of the junta from running in elections that will eventually return the West African nation to civilian rule.

Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who led the Sept. 5 coup, will serve as the president in a transition that will remain in place until it determines an election date. The charter was read out on late Monday.

The charter outlines a government that is headed by a civilian prime minister and a National Transitional Council that will serve as parliament. The council will be composed of 81 members ranging from members of political parties to youth leaders, security forces, trade unions, business leaders and others. The body, which will include a president and two vice-presidents, must also have at least 30% women among its members. This council then determines the length of the transition.