Military bloc in mineral-rich Guinea coups up

A military officer draped in the country’s red, green and yellow flags announced on state television that Guinea’s government had been dissolved and its borders closed. A separate video shared online and verified by a senior European intelligence official shows Mr Conde, 83, sitting quietly during the arrest, in military uniform alongside armed and masked men.

As night fell, a power struggle was brewing in the capital Conakry, with the Defense Ministry claiming in a contradictory statement that the coup had been foiled. Western security officials said the situation was “fluid,” but Puchists controlling state television “held the cards.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a tweet that he “strongly condemns”[ed] Any takeover of the government at gunpoint. and call[ed] For the immediate release of President Alpha Condé.”

According to eyewitnesses, small groups of cheering crowds, some waving flags, took to the streets of Conakry to celebrate the capture of the army.

News of the latest attempted coup comes amid deep instability in West Africa, where strong leaders have sought to expand their rule despite weak economies and a rise in terrorist attacks, sparking anger among some of the world’s youngest populations. Used to be. Sunday’s coup attempt comes just weeks after the military launched a second coup in a year in neighboring Mali. Chad’s military carried out a coup in April to replace President Idris Debbie with his son after he was killed in fighting against the rebels. Last year, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara won a controversial third term, running for office after promising to stand first. Last year, Mr Conde deployed the military to push for controversial changes to the constitution and extend his term in power.

Colonel Mamady Doumboya, the self-proclaimed leader of Guinea’s coup attempt, chief of special forces and former French general, said in a broadcast via social network that the elite had treated the country unfairly and that it was going through an 18-month transition period. Will be

“The social, political and economic situation in Guinea, the country … has made the military decide to take its responsibility for the future of Guinea,” he said. “We will not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

President Conde’s location is unknown and video footage posted online shows him disoriented and disoriented. Once celebrated as Guinea’s first democratically elected president, when he won in 2010, Mr Condé has centered power around his personal authority and cracked down on the opposition. Last year he deployed the military to push for controversial constitutional amendments that would have enabled him to stay in power until 2032 – when he would be 94.

The country, which has abundant reserves of bauxite, iron ore, gold and diamonds, has recorded strong economic growth over the past decade, but few of its citizens have seen gains. Faced with a pandemic-related drop in revenue, the government has raised taxes significantly in recent weeks, while raising the price of fuel by 20%, sparking a sense of discontent among many Guineans.

A senior French official said France, the former colonial power, said Mr Doubouya was a French general several years ago, but Paris had no role in the coup.

France, which has conducted military training with Guinea in recent years, distanced itself from Mr Condé when he amended the constitution and won re-election in a vote the opposition decried as fraud.

Russia, whose ambassador voiced support for Mr Conde’s re-election, was one of the few global powers still in line with the president, who was one of the first nation leaders to buy Russia’s Sputnik coronavirus vaccine.

This story has been published without modification to the text from a wire agency feed