Guinea: Ousted Alpha Condé flies to Turkey for treatment after junta permits foreign travel

Guinean ex-leader Alpha Condé boarded a plane for Turkey on Saturday after the junta that toppled him authorised his travel abroad for medical treatment, officials said.

The 84-year-old Condé, who was ousted last year, has been allowed to travel out of respect for his "dignity and integrity" and for "humanitarian reasons", the junta's governing body said.

Condé has "medical appointments" abroad, the National Rallying Committee for Development said, without providing details about his health, where he would be treated or the length of time he would be out of the country.

However, according to an airport management official and a police official, Condé boarded an aircraft bound for Turkey at Conakry airport in the morning.

They added that the former leader appeared to have left on his own.

Guinea earlier this month opened a judicial investigation into Condé and several other former top officials for murder, torture, kidnappings, looting and rapes.

Army officers led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted him last September after 11 years in power in the impoverished former French colony.

Condé had drawn fierce criticism after he pushed through a new constitution in 2020 that allowed him to run for a third presidential term.

He was initially detained before being allowed to go to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment in January, returning home in early April.

On 22 April, the junta declared Condé was "finally free", but he has not been seen in public since.