Amid reports of gunfire in Conakry, Guinea’s military junta dismisses the claims as ‘fabricated.’ Get the latest updates on the unfolding situation and official responses.
On Thursday, Guinea’s military forces temporarily secured the city center in response to reports of gunfire near the presidential palace.
A diplomatic source informed the Associated Press that a small group of dissenting soldiers fired upon special forces stationed around the palace, but these special forces quickly subdued them. The source further claimed that the soldiers were aligned with Colonel Célestin Bilivogui, whose body was discovered earlier in the week, a year after he had mysteriously disappeared following his arrest by the special forces.
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In contrast, the ruling military junta issued a statement on national television, dismissing the gunfire reports as ‘fabricated’ and encouraging residents to continue their daily activities as normal.
Since the military coup that ousted President Alpha Condé in 2021, the nation has been governed by a military junta. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for a restoration of civilian governance, with elections scheduled for the upcoming year.
Several other West African countries, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, are also under military rule following similar coups.
