The president of Guinea, Mamadi Doumbouya. Inventory Photograph | Photograph credit score: AP
Photographs had been fired on Thursday night time (September 26, 2024) close to the presidential palace in Conakry, Guinea’s capital, and the military briefly closed the town middle and evacuated it.
Native journalist Fode Toure mentioned he heard gunshots and noticed folks fleeing in panic. An AP reporter close to the palace noticed closely armed troopers patrolling the streets.
Additionally learn: Guinea’s junta freezes accounts of member of dissolved authorities
Three attackers killed
A diplomatic official near Guinea’s chief mentioned 11 dissident troopers opened hearth on particular forces across the presidential palace, however had been overpowered by the particular forces. Three of the attackers had been killed and eight others had been arrested, he mentioned, including that the scenario was beneath management. He spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to talk to reporters.
The official mentioned the troopers had been loyal to Colonel Celestin Bilivogui, who disappeared nearly a 12 months in the past beneath mysterious circumstances after his arrest by particular forces. Bilivogui was discovered lifeless Wednesday, his household and legal professionals mentioned.
The blockade of central Conakry was later lifted.
The ruling junta denied that pictures had been fired, calling it a “loopy” and “made-up” rumor in an announcement learn on nationwide tv. He urged downtown residents to go about their enterprise.
The West African nation has been run by a navy regime since troopers overthrew President Alpha Conde in 2021. The West African regional bloc often known as ECOWAS has pushed for a fast transition again to civilian rule and elections are scheduled by 2025.
Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, the nation’s chief, overthrew the president three years in the past, saying he was stopping Guinea from falling into chaos and chastised the earlier authorities for damaged guarantees.
Nonetheless, since coming to energy he has been criticized for not being higher than his predecessor. In February, navy leaders dissolved the federal government with out rationalization and mentioned a brand new one can be appointed.
Doumbouya has rejected makes an attempt by the West and different developed nations to intervene in Africa’s political challenges, saying Africans are “exhausted by the categorizations that everybody needs to field us into.”
A number of West African nations, together with Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, have had coups that put in navy junta. They’ve reduce or decreased long-standing navy ties with Western powers in favor of Russian safety help.
Printed – September 27, 2024 07:49 am IST
