Colonel Gbago Joseph Zoumanigui was a significant figure in Guinea's military history. A former influential member of the Military Committee for National Recovery (CMRN), he played a key role in several major events, including the army's seizure of power in 1984 and the military mutiny of February 1996.
Born in 1943, Gbago Zoumanigui joined the Guinean army at the age of 19, becoming part of the 1962 cohort. His military career led him to serve in various strategic areas of the country. When the CMRN took power after the death of Ahmed Sékou Touré in 1984, he became a member of the ruling committee of the military junta led by General Lansana Conté.
However, in February 1996, a mutiny broke out in Conakry, led by soldiers demanding better wages and improved social conditions. The situation descended into chaos when the presidential palace was bombarded, and President Conté was temporarily captured. Gbago Zoumanigui, then a captain, was named among the alleged masterminds behind the uprising. Forced into exile after this episode, he managed to leave Guinea through the Malian border.
It was only after Lansana Conté's death in 2008 that he returned to Guinea. Since his retirement, he has occasionally spoken about his military past and the significant events of his career. His involvement in the 1996 mutiny continues to spark debates about the role of the armed forces in Guinea's political history.
