Sadiba Koulibaly, the former deputy of Guinea's military ruler, has died in custody. His death comes shortly after being sentenced to five years by a military court, a ruling that has sparked controversy and allegations of foul play.

Sadiba Koulibaly, formerly the right-hand man to Guinea's ruling general, died in detention shortly after being sentenced by a military court, according to prosecutors on Wednesday. Koulibaly had been sentenced to five years on June 14 for charges including desertion and weapon offenses, a trial his supporters criticized as fabricated.

As the second-in-command to military ruler Mamady Doumbouya during the 2021 coup that brought them to power, Koulibaly's death in custody was reported by prosecutors at a military tribunal on June 24. An autopsy, commissioned by prosecutors, suggested his death "could be attributable to severe psychological trauma and prolonged stress," resulting in a heart attack.

However, Koulibaly's lawyer, Mory Doumbouya, expressed suspicion, stating that his client had been in good health and had not reported any health issues since his arrest on June 4. He also noted that Koulibaly had been held in a undisclosed location and that authorities had prevented his defense team from contacting him.

Guinea has faced internal turmoil since the 2021 coup, with opposition groups advocating for a return to civilian rule. Under international pressure, the junta had initially agreed to hold elections by the end of 2024. However, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, appointed by the military, recently suggested that military rule should continue until at least 2025.

Koulibaly had been appointed as the Guinean army's chief of staff after the September 2021 coup, serving until May 2023. He later took up a role as charge d'affaires at Guinea's embassy in Cuba before returning to Guinea in May to demand salary payments for embassy staff. His arrest on accusations of abandoning his post was followed by the alleged discovery of weapons at his residence, according to prosecutors.