The statement of the coup plotters circulated on social networks, but was not broadcast on national television.
The situation is confusing. Guinean special forces officials claimed on Sunday (September 5) that they had captured President Alpha Condé and “to dissolve” the institutions. The Defense Ministry, in turn, guaranteed that it had repelled the attack by the special forces against the presidency, despite the release of a video that showed President Condé in the hands of the coup plotters.
“We decided, after taking the president, who is currently with us (…) to dissolve the Constitution in force, to dissolve the institutions; we also decided to dissolve the government and close the land and air borders”, said one of the uniformed and armed coupists in this communiqué, which also circulated widely on social networks, but which was not broadcast on national television.
Guinea’s President Alpha Conde was arrested by the military. Previously, heavy gunfire was heard in the capital. #Conakry #Militarycouptinguinea pic.twitter.com/h9ZgQtipGo
– Baillor Jalloh (@baillorjah) September 5, 2021
The coup plotters, to whom the AFP correspondent confirmed the origin of these images, released a video of President Condé in their hands. They ask if he’s been mistreated and Alpha Condé, sitting on a sofa in jeans and a shirt, refuses to answer.
In turn, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement that “the insurgents [avaient] sowed fear “ in Conakry before taking the direction of the presidential palace, but that “the presidential guard, supported by the legalistic and republican defense and security forces, contained the threat and repelled the group of aggressors.”