There is a coup happening in Guinea: Six things you need to know

The government of Guinea has essentially been overthrown in the past 24 hours, after a military-led coup ousted the president from his 11-year rule. Things have moved at a rapid pace in the country, and the Moroccan national football team had to be evacuated from the country on Sunday night. But wait… there’s much, much more.

Guinea coup: Latest news and updates on Monday 6 September

The President has been arrested by the army

President Alpha Conde was filmed sitting on a sofa surrounded by troops on Sunday. The 83-year-old leader refused to answer a question from one soldier about whether he had been mistreated, and remained under heavy guard throughout the evening. His arrest at the hands of the junta was shared online, going viral in the process.

Constitution, government completely dissolved

Guinea’s army made a series of stark announcements overnight, including the following:

• The Constitution of Guinea will now be dissolved.
• All borders have been shut, for people coming in and out of the country.
• Government also faces dissolution on Monday.
• Top ranking military officials will replace Cabinet administrators going forward.

A nationwide curfew has been implemented.

The junta announced a nationwide curfew “until further notice”, saying it would convene Conde’s cabinet ministers at 11:00 local time on Monday. Breaking this directive will be treated as an act of rebellion, according to one source.

What sparked the coup in Guinea?

The head of Guinea’s military special forces, Lieutenant-Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, appeared on public television, draped in the national flag, saying government “mismanagement” prompted the coup. The putsch follows a long period of political tension in Guinea, first spurred by Conde’s highly contested bid for a third presidential term last year. 

In October 2020, was marred by violence and accusations of electoral fraud. Conde won a controversial third term, but only after pushing through a new constitution in March 2020 allowing him to sidestep the country’s two-term limit.

So who is now in charge of Guinea?

The day before the presidential election last year, the military blocked access to Kaloum after an alleged military rebellion east of the capital. Mamady Doumbouya, in his role as one of the top military chiefs, has taken de facto leadership of the country as part of the coup – he will remain ‘in charge’ throughout the transitional period.

He, erm, certainly has a way with words…

“We are no longer going to entrust politics to one man, we are going to entrust politics to the people. Guinea is beautiful. We don’t need to rape Guinea anymore, we just need to make love to her.”

Is there a US-French influence to this regime change?

The EFF has flown out of the blocks, condemning the coup as a plot masterminded by US and French forces…

EFF Statement On The Military Take Over Of Government In Guinea pic.twitter.com/YOywwRFlAo

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 6, 2021