Gambiaj.com – (CONAKRY, Guinea) – Colonel Sadiba Koulibaly, former Chief of general staff of the Guinean armed forces, died during his detention last Saturday, June 22. But it was until Tuesday evening, three days after his death, that the news was announced. Koulibaly was held in an undisclosed location.

Just a dozen days earlier, on June 14, Colonel Koulibaly was sentenced by the Conakry military court to five years in prison for “desertion and illegal possession of weapons.”

According to the military prosecutor, the high-ranking officer, who was one of the most well-known figures in the CNRD junta led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, died following a cardiac arrest.

The sudden death of Sadiba Koulibaly has sparked controversy and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his demise. It was until Tuesday evening, three days after his death, that the Conakry military court prosecution announced that Colonel Koulibaly had died.

The military Tribunal that sentenced the late Koulibaly to jail issued a press release stating that an autopsy has been conducted on the deceased to ascertain the causes of his death.

The military press release indicates that Koulibaly died at Ignace Deen Hospital, as the head of the forensic medicine department issued the death certificate. However, inconsistencies have emerged, with the prosecution announcing that Koulibaly died on Saturday, June 22, while the death certificate was signed two days later.

The autopsy report suggested that his cardiac arrest “could be attributable to psycho-trauma and prolonged stress.”

Serious doubts on the military version of what happened to Koulibaly

Lawyer Lancinet Diabaté, one of Koulibaly’s lawyers, disputes the notion of a natural death. In a public statement, Diabaté emphasized that Koulibaly was in good health before his imprisonment. Diabaté highlighted that he did not know the location of Koulibaly’s detention, which raised concerns since Koulibaly was not held in any official prison or detention center.

“We can believe in anything except a natural death. At the hearing, our client showed no signs of distress. He was in good health throughout the investigation and trial, never reporting any illness. He assured us he was calm. We were stunned to learn he had supposedly died of natural causes,” the lawyer stated.

The lawyer further explained that after the Tabaski prayers, they attempted to contact Koulibaly but were denied access. “Now they tell us he’s dead; why didn’t they let him talk to his lawyers? What was behind this? It is a universal principle of law that a convicted individual should be in contact with their lawyer.”

Moreover, the lawyer emphasized, “We must send the client to a prison recognized by law. This was not the case for our client. He was not at the central prison in Conakry. We did everything to locate him, but they refused. By virtue of what?”

Koulibaly’s death has drawn attention due to his prominent role in Guinea’s political landscape. As a reminder, General Sadiba Koulibaly, who was recently demoted to colonel, was considered the second-in-command in the CNRD junta following the September 5, 2021 coup. His downfall began with a fallout last year with President Mamadi Doumbouya, leading to his conviction and discharge from the army on June 14, 2024.

The lack of clarity surrounding Koulibaly’s death, combined with the delayed issuance of the death certificate, has fueled speculation and concern among the public and legal experts. As investigations continue, many hope for transparency and accountability to uncover the truth behind this high-profile case.