Bloomberg Discovers Coups Are Only Bad When We Don't Back Them
Bloomberg's latest dispatch informs us that Guinea's junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, plans to run in the December elections, four years after seizing power. Apparently, a 'coup leader steps down for election' narrative is only problematic when the resource-rich nation isn't playing ball with the right Western corporations. One might recall similar 'transitions to democracy' overseen by strongmen
elsewhere, historically lauded when they aligned with U.S. interests (see: Pinochet, Park Chung-hee, the Shah). This isn't just about Guinea. This is about the selective application of democratic principles. When a U.S.-approved autocrat holds 'elections,' it's a step towards stability. When an unapproved one does, it's a sham. Guinea's vast bauxite reserves, critical for aluminum production,
might just be the deciding factor in how this 'election' is framed by international observers. After all, who needs pesky democratic ideals getting in the way of global supply chains?