A court in Guinea has sentenced a former highly influential defence minister to five years in prison for corruption, illicit enrichment, embezzlement and money laundering.

Mohamed Diane served as defence minister between 2015 and 2021 under President Alpha Condé, before the army seized power.

He was also ordered to pay a $58.5m (£46m) fine, and his bank accounts and property in the capital Conakry and the eastern city of Kankan will also be confiscated by the state.

The judge said the assets were to be seized as their origin could not be justified.

Diane has been in detention since May 2022 when the military junta launched a campaign against corruption in the country.

After taking power, the junta made fighting corruption one of its key priorities in the impoverished West African state and established an anti-corruption court.

BBC/Titilayo Kupoliyi

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