-- International organizations including the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as some governments, condemned the military coup in Guinea on Sunday and called for release of the country's President Alpha Conde.
-- Earlier on Sunday, heavy gunfire was heard in the urban commune of Kaloum in downtown Conakry, capital of the West African country, where the Presidential Palace and several ministerial departments are located.
-- Later in the day, Doumbouya announced on national television that he took power of Guinea, closed the country's land and air borders and invalidated its constitution, after his forces arrested Conde, and dissolved the government and national institutions.
-- In the aftermath of the military unrest, prices of aluminum spiked to an all-time high in a decade on Monday amid panic about disruptions to global supply, as Guinea owns the world's largest reserve of bauxite, a key raw material for producing aluminium, and is among the world's top exporters of bauxite.
CONAKRY, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- International organizations including the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as some governments, condemned the military coup in Guinea on Sunday and called for release of the country's President Alpha Conde.
PLEDGE OF TRANSITION
While addressing government ministers and senior officials on Monday, Mamady Doumbouya, head of the coup, announced initiation of a transition "in the direction of a new Guinea where all the sons of the country will reconcile."
Doumbouya, a lieutenant-colonel, also said they planned to form a new government of national unity, and prohibited government officials with no greenlight from leaving the country.
Members of Guinea's special forces are seen outside the Palace of the People in Conakry, Guinea, Sept. 6, 2021. (Xinhua)
Earlier on Sunday, heavy gunfire was heard in the urban commune of Kaloum in downtown Conakry, capital of the West African country, where the Presidential Palace and several ministerial departments are located.
Later in the day, Doumbouya announced on national television that he took power of Guinea, closed the country's land and air borders and invalidated its constitution, after his forces arrested Conde, and dissolved the government and national institutions.
The rebel leader, who is also head of the National Committee for Rally and Development (CNRD) in Guinea, pledged that at the end of this transitional phase, the foundation for a new era in governance, security and economic development will be laid, adding that there would be "no hatred or revenge."
The CNRD has decided that "for former members of the government," no travel outside beyond the country's borders would be allowed during the transition, and that all travel documents and official vehicles of the "former ministers" must be handed over.
A government official escorted by members of Guinea's special forces walks in to the Palace of the People in Conakry, Guinea, Sept. 6, 2021. (Xinhua)
However, the CNRD intends to maintain the opening of maritime borders for exporting mining products, and has spared mining areas from a national curfew to ensure continuity of the production.
"The committee intends to reassure the economic and financial partners of the normal pursuit of activities in the country and the mining companies are asked to continue their activities," Doumbouya noted.
Doumbouya stressed that the CNRD would respect all its obligations and mining conventions in order to promote foreign investment in the country.
In the aftermath of the military unrest, prices of aluminum spiked to an all-time high in a decade on Monday amid panic about disruptions to global supply, as Guinea owns the world's largest reserve of bauxite, a key raw material for producing aluminium, and is among the world's top exporters of bauxite.
GLOBAL CENSURE
The military rebellion sparked widespread denouncement by the international community and callings for the release of President Conde, including from the UN, the European Union (EU), the AU and ECOWAS.
"I am personally following the situation in Guinea very closely. I strongly condemn any takeover of the government by force of the gun and call for the immediate release of President Alpha Conde," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Sunday on Twitter.
Members of Guinea's special forces are seen outside the Palace of the People in Conakry, Guinea, Sept. 6, 2021. (Xinhua)
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell condemned the coup in Guinea via Twitter, calling on the rebels to release Conde.
The 55-member AU also called for an immediate release of Conde in a statement.
People are seen around members of Guinea's special forces in Conakry, Guinea, Sept. 6, 2021. (Xinhua)
Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the current AU chairperson, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU Commission chairperson, further called on the AU Peace and Security Council to meet urgently to examine the new situation in Guinea and take appropriate measures.
ECOWAS "decidedly condemns this attempted coup d'etat that happened on Sunday," the community said in a statement, demanding the safe release of Conde and other detained people.
Meanwhile, countries including the United States and Russia also condemned the coup and called for the release of Conde, urging all parties to avoid violence and rather work towards a peaceful settlement. (Video reporters: Zhao Yuchao, Zhang Yuhong; video editor: Zhao Yuchao) ■
