“We’ll not entrust politics to a person. We’ll entrust it to the individuals. We come just for that; it’s the responsibility of a soldier, to avoid wasting the nation,” Guinean military officer Mamady Doumbouya says within the video.
An adviser to President Alpha Conde instructed CNN that Conde is underneath arrest and {that a} coup has taken place within the West African nation.
The situation of the 83-year-old, who gained a closely disputed election final yr, is unclear.
Within the video, Doumbouya — sporting a particular forces uniform — says they’ve arrested Conde and suspended the structure, the federal government and all different establishments. He additionally introduced the closing of land and air borders. The video has been broadly circulated and reported by native media.
Curfew declared, former ministers summoned
In a later replace that was broadcast on state TV, army officers declared a nationwide curfew and mentioned Conde was unhurt.
“We need to reassure the nationwide and worldwide neighborhood, the bodily and ethical integrity of former President (Alpha Conde) just isn’t threatened,” a army officer mentioned, in accordance a translation printed by Reuters. “We took all the required measures for him to have entry to medical care and to be in contact along with his physicians.”
No clear proof was supplied of Conde’s situation and CNN has not been capable of confirm the army officer’s claims.
The officers went on to say {that a} nationwide curfew had been declared in Guinea. “The curfew is applied from 8 p.m., nationwide, and this till additional discover,” an officer mentioned, studying from a press release.
The officers additionally invited outgoing ministers and former heads of establishment to a gathering at 11 a.m. Monday.
“Any failure to attend can be thought-about as a revolt towards the CNRD,” they mentioned, referring to the group’s identify, which in French stands for the Nationwide Rally and Growth Committee.
‘Sustained gunfire’
Gunfire erupted Sunday in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, in what gave the impression to be a coup try, in line with a number of social media postings and witnesses who spoke to CNN.
Closely armed troopers have been current in Conakry’s Kaloum space, the positioning of many authorities buildings, in line with movies shared on social media.
One broadly circulating video appeared to point out Conde surrounded by Guinean troopers.
“It’s time for us to grasp one another, to hitch arms, to take a seat down, to write down a structure that’s tailored to our realities, able to fixing our issues,” Doumbouya mentioned within the video.
One other video circulating on social media confirmed Guineans cheering army automobiles and waving flags within the capital.
CNN has not independently verified the authenticity of the movies.
Takeover condemned
The US State Division warned that the obvious coup may make it arduous for Guinea’s worldwide companions to assist it.
“Violence and any extra-constitutional measures will solely erode Guinea’s prospects for peace, stability, and prosperity,” the division mentioned in a press release Sunday. “These actions may restrict the flexibility of the US and Guinea’s different worldwide companions to assist the nation because it navigates a path towards nationwide unity and a brighter future for the Guinean individuals.”
In a press release printed Sunday, the African Union (AU) condemned what it referred to as a “energy seize.”
AU Chairperson H.E. Felix Tshisekedi and the chairperson of the AU Fee, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, requested for the “quick launch of President Alpha Conde,” in line with the assertion.
United Nations Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres additionally referred to as for Conde’s launch, as reviews of the obvious coup unfolded.
CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne, Sharif Paget and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.
