Toba Owojaiye reporting
Conakry, Guinea – A storm of heavy gunfire rattled the heart of Conakry, the capital of Guinea, on Saturday as security forces locked down the city, plunging residents and onlookers into a state of panic.
Eyewitnesses, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported that Conakry had been effectively sealed off. “Gunfire echoes through the streets of Kaloum, the political and administrative epicenter of Conakry,” said one witness.
The city center has become inaccessible since the early morning, with entry and exit now forbidden. A shopkeeper attempting to reach the port area, where they work, encountered armored vehicles blocking all movement.
Guinea, which has experienced political instability, joined the list of African nations that have witnessed coups since 2020, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon. In September 2021, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power in a coup, ending 11 years of civilian rule.
TruthLive News reports that the situation in Conakry remains fluid and concerning as gunfire reverberates through the city streets. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, leaving the population in a state of unease.
In a shocking development, gunmen stormed the main prison in Conakry, freeing former dictator Moussa “Dadis” Camara, as announced by Justice Minister Charles Alphonse Wright. In response, the country’s borders were closed.
This announcement followed hours of heavy gunfire in the Kaloum district of the capital. Among those who escaped alongside Camara were Claude Pivi and Blaise Goumou, as confirmed by Wright, who also reassured the public, saying, “We will find them, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
Camara, who took power in a 2008 coup d’etat, had been detained in connection with a stadium massacre during his brief time in power. He had lived in exile for years following an assassination attempt by one of his bodyguards before returning home in late 2021.
Camara is one of more than a dozen suspects charged in connection with the 2009 massacre when Guinean security forces fired upon peaceful demonstrators protesting his intention to run for president after seizing power. Human rights groups report that at least 157 people were killed during the tragic event.
As the situation unfolds, the future of Guinea remains uncertain, and the international community closely watches the alarming developments in this West African nation.