Conakry, The rebels in Guinea have pledged to ensure local residents’ safety following the Sunday coup, the junta, which now calls itself the National Rally and Development Committee (CNRD), said.
The Guinean authorities said that the presidential palace had been attacked by rebels, who announced that they had captured the country’s president, Alpha Conde. The coup leader, Mamady Doumbouya, announced the dissolution of the government and the rebels declared a nationwide curfew in the country, saying that they were replacing local governors and prefects with members of the military.
“All arrangements will be made to ensure the safety of peaceful citizens as well as their property. All units of the interior are asked to keep calm and avoid movements towards [the capital] Conakry,” the CNRD said in a statement, quoted by Guinee News on Sunday.
According to the release, the nationwide curfew is being enforced in Guinea starting from 8 p.m. (20:00 GMT) on Sunday, until further notice.
Outgoing ministers, members of Conde’s cabinet and other top officials are invited to a meeting that will be convened by the rebels on Monday morning, at 11 a.m., the CNRD said.
“Any refusal to attend will be considered a rebellion against the CNRD,” the rebels emphasized in their statement, calling on all Guinean officials to return to work on Monday.
Earlier on Sunday, the coup leader, Mamady Doumbouya, announced the dissolution of the government as well as the abrogation of the constitution and the closure of the border. Doumbouya said that the president was staying with the rebels in a safe location and had been examined by a doctor.
“We have taken all measures to ensure that he [the president] has access to healthcare and that he is also in contact with his doctors,” the CNRD said in its Sunday statement.
Incumbent President Alpha Conde won his controversial third term in office in last year’s election in Guinea, following his decision to amend the constitution to allow himself the third consecutive presidential term. This sparked unrest in the country even though the constitution was changed through a national referendum.
Supporters of Guinea’s rebellious military took to the streets of the capital of Conakry after the coup d’etat on Sunday, according to local media reports. People in the streets were chanting slogans praising the military.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) all condemned the coup in Guinea on Sunday and demanded that the rebels release the country’s president. ECOWAS has called for the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea and threatened the rebels with sanctions.
(EW correspondent)
