Guinea swears in coup leader as interim president

FILE PHOTO: Special forces commander Mamady Doumbouya, who ousted President Alpha Conde, walks out after meeting envoys from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the Guinea crisis to discuss ways to steer the country back toward constitutional regime, in Conakry, Guinea September 10, 2021 REUTERS/Saliou Samb/File Photo

CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guinea junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya was inaugurated as interim president on Friday to oversee what regional powers hope will be a short transition to constitutional rule after the Sept. 5 overthrow of president Alpha Conde.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Mohamed VI Palace in the capital Conakry with the marked absence of most West African heads of state, who agreed last month to impose sanctions on junta members and their relatives.