Gunfire erupts near Guinea’s presidential palace; military locks down area

Shots fired near Guinea's presidential palace, dissident soldiers overpowered, military regime faces criticism, elections scheduled for 2025.

Shots were fired late Thursday (September 26, 2024) near the presidential palace in Guinea ’s capital Conakry, and the army briefly locked down the city centre and evacuated it.

Local journalist Fode Toure said he heard gunshots and saw people running away in panic. An AP reporter near the palace saw heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets.

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A diplomatic official close to Guinea's leader said that 11 dissident soldiers opened fire on the special forces around the presidential palace, but they were overpowered by the special forces. Three of the assailants were killed and eight others arrested, he said, adding that the situation was under control. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorised to talk to reporters.

The official said the soldiers were loyal to Col. Celestin Bilivogui, who disappeared almost a year ago in mysterious conditions following his arrest by the special forces. Bilivogui was found dead on Wednesday, his family and lawyers said.

The lockdown of the center of Conakry was later lifted.

The ruling junta denied that any gunshots took place calling it a “crazy” and “fabricated” rumor in a statement read on national television. It urged residents of the city center to go about their business.