Two people have been wounded as gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in Guinea’s capital Conakry on Sunday morning.
It is not clear who was exchanging fire, heavily armed soldiers were posted around the palace, with some patrolling the streets. Military vehicles remained vigilant.
Although 83-year-old President Alpha Conde was unharmed, military source said the gunfire involved angry members of the special forces, an elite army corp.
Another source confirmed that the only bridge linking the mainland to the Kaloum neighbourhood, which houses most of the ministries and the presidential palace, had been sealed off.
Conde won a controversial third term in October 2020 after altering the constitution to allow him to stand again despite violent protests from the opposition, raising concerns of a backslide in a region that has seen coups in Mali and Chad in recent months.
Footage shared on social media showed heavy gunfire ringing out over Conakry, and vehicles full of soldiers approaching the central bank, close to the palace.
Guinea has seen sustained economic growth during Conde’s decade in power thanks to its bauxite, iron ore, gold and diamond wealth, but few of its citizens have seen the benefits.
