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Tag: Guinea

  • Nigeria condemns ‘unconstitutional’ change of government in Guinea, sends message to coup leaders

    Nigeria condemns ‘unconstitutional’ change of government in Guinea, sends message to coup leaders

    The Nigerian Government has condemned what it describes as an apparent coup d’état in the Republic of Guinea.

    A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Esther Sunsuwa, made the position of the government known in a statement on Sunday.

    According to the statement, the takeover of power by the military is in clear violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

    “The Government of Nigeria strongly condemns and rejects any unconstitutional change of government and therefore calls on those behind this coup to restore constitutional order without delay and protect all lives and property,” it said.

    The statement was issued following reports that special forces in Guinea have taken over power in what appears to be a new twist in the political unrest in the West African country.

    As a result, incumbent President Alpha Conde who has been in office since December 2010, was said to have been arrested by the soldiers.

    “We have decided, after having taken the president, to dissolve the constitution,” a uniformed officer flanked by soldiers wielding assault rifles was quoted as saying in a video sent to AFP.

    The soldier announced that Guinea’s land and air borders have been shut and that the government had been dissolved.

    Thereafter, the head of Guinea’s military special forces, Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, was said to have appeared on public television.

    Wrapped in the country’s flag, Doumbouya revealed that his action was triggered by “mismanagement” by the government.

    “We are no longer going to entrust politics to one man, we are going to entrust politics to the people,” the coup leader said. “Guinea is beautiful. We don’t need to rape Guinea anymore; we just need to make love to her.”

    There has been lingering political tension in Guinea, first spurred by the bid for a third term by President Conde in 2020.

    Another video sent to AFP showed a rumpled-looking President Conde sitting on a sofa, surrounded by troops.

    The 83-year-old who survived an assassination attempt in 2011 refused to answer a question from a soldier about whether he was being mistreated while in their custody.

    Sunday’s incident in Guinea has continued to attract condemnation and criticism, one of which was the reaction of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who asked the putschists to release Conde.

    “I am personally following the situation in Guinea very closely,” he said in a social media post. “I strongly condemn any takeover of the government by force of the gun and call for the immediate release of President Alpha Conde.”

  • ‘Coup’: Military unit seizes power in Guinea, dissolves constitution

    ‘Coup’: Military unit seizes power in Guinea, dissolves constitution

    Soldiers who staged an uprising in Guinea’s capital on Sunday said in a short broadcast on state television that they have dissolved the constitution and the government in the West African state.

    However, the defence ministry said an attack on the presidential palace by mutinous forces had been put down.

    Heavy gunfire had broken out near the presidential palace in Conakry on Sunday morning, with several sources saying an elite national army unit led by a former French legionnaire, Mamady Doumbouya, was behind the unrest.

    An unidentified soldier, draped in Guinea’s national flag and surrounded by eight other armed soldiers, said in the broadcast that they planned to form a transitional government and would give further details later.

    The soldier spoke after videos shared on social media – which Reuters could not immediately authenticate – showed President Alpha Conde surrounded in a room by army special forces.

    The defence ministry said the attemped insurgency had been put down.

    “The presidential guard, supported by the loyalist and republican defence and security forces, contained the threat and repelled the group of assailants,” it said in a statement.

    “Security and combing operations are continuing to restore order and peace.”

    Earlier, videos shared on social media showed military vehicles patrolling Conkary’s streets and one military source said the only bridge connecting the mainland to the Kaloum neighbourhood, which houses the palace and most government ministries, had been sealed off.

    Many soldiers, some heavily armed, were posted around the palace, the source added.

  • Barca midfielder quits Spain for Guinea

    Barca midfielder quits Spain for Guinea

    Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba has quit Spain to commit his international future to Guinea.

    AS says Ilaix has given up on the Spanish national team and will play for the country of his birth, the Republic of Guinea. His father has met with representatives from the country and they took that decision.

    Ilaix, born in Conakry on Jan 19, 2003, arrived in Spain as a kid and acquired Spanish nationality.

    Born to a Liberian father and a Guinean mother, he had been expected to play for Spain, possibly even as soon as this season, given he featured for Barca last season and Luis Enrique might have given him a chance.

  • Guinea President, Alpha Conde Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

    Guinea President, Alpha Conde Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

    The 82-year-old president of Guinea, Alpha Conde, has received his first dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus, part of a scheme mainly involving government members, a source close to his office said Saturday.

    Defence minister Mohamed Diane, a scientist by training, was the first in the country to get a jab of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine on December 30.

    The source said Conde received the Sputnik V vaccine on Friday.

    Several other government members who have not so far contracted the virus have also been inoculated over the past two weeks, a spokesman for the national health security agency said.

    Guinea has received 60 doses of Sputnik V and authorities intend to inoculate a small number of elderly volunteers first before deciding whether to extend the programme.

    “More than 2.5 million vaccine doses are expected before the end of the first quarter, which would enable us to inoculate a good number of people, certainly those who want it,” said health agency spokesman, Sory Keira, without specifying whether the doses consisted solely of the Russian-developed jab.

    The impoverished African country has so far registered more than 14,000 infections and 81 deaths linked to the novel coronavirus, including a number of politicians.

    The outbreak coincided with months of political crisis caused by Conde’s decision to run for his third consecutive term as president.

    Conde won the October election against a backdrop of violence, with dozens killed during clashes between protesters and security forces.

    Critics accuse him of cracking down on dissent and breaking the country’s constitutional two-term presidential limit.

    The coronavirus pandemic comes on the heels of the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which killed around 2,500 people in the nation of some 13 million people.

  • Court confirms Alpha Conde legitimate winner of Guinea presidential poll

    Court confirms Alpha Conde legitimate winner of Guinea presidential poll

    President of Guinea’s Constitutional Court (CC) Mohamed Lamine Bangoura has confirmed the election of President Alpha Conde for a disputed third term.

    Bangoura made the confirmation on Saturday during the court’s public hearing.

    According to Bangoura, Alpha Conde, the candidate of the ruling party RPG (Rally of the Guinean People) won the electoral ballot with about 59.50 percent of the votes.

    His main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, president of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, won some 33.49 percent of the votes.

    The president of the CC said that the October 18 ballot was regular and thus declared President Alpha Conde elected president of Guinea.

    The turnout in the presidential election was estimated at about 78.88 percent.

    A total of 12 candidates contested in the presidential election on Oct. 18.

  • Coronavirus-free Sierra Leone shuts borders after Guinea, Liberia announce closures

    Coronavirus-free Sierra Leone shuts borders after Guinea, Liberia announce closures

    Virus-free Sierra Leone on Friday announced closure of its borders for a 30-day period barely days after President Julius Maada Bio announced a state of public health emergency.

    According to reports, the measure was to keep out the coronavirus which has engulfed all of West Africa except for Sierra Leone. The country tested two cases which turned out to be negative.

    The border closures come in the wake of same action taken by neighbours Guinea and Liberia. Guinea president Alpha Conde declared a state of emergency on Friday also for 30-days over the virus.

    The closure will last for a renewable period of 30 days excepting cargo vehicles which will be limited to two apprentices and a driver. They’ll be subjected to a 14-day surveillance by both countries on entry and exit.

    All learning institutions and entertainment centers have been closed for 14 days, as have churches and mosques. All cultural events have been prohibited.

    Liberia is currently in a lockdown over the pandemic. The three countries were at the heart of the Ebola epidemic that killed thousands years ago.

    Despite being among 11 African countries that have not recorded any cases of the coronavirus, Sierra Leone president Julius Maada Bio on March, 24 imposed a twelve-month state of public health emergency.

    The brave move signifies that the country is not taken any chances with the pandemic which has affected all its neighbours in the region.

    Meanwhile, the Freetown International Airport, Sierra Leone’s main entry point via air witnessed a coronavirus related scuffle after passengers aboard a Kenya Airways flight refused necessary health protocols two weeks ago.

    One of the country’s experienced journalists Umaru Fofana reported the said flight had a that passengers aboard the flight had a suspected COVID-19 case leading to the decision to quarantine all the passengers. It is not known how authorities detected the case in question.

    “At least three passengers refused to be isolated saying they’d rather return to where they’d come from…,” Fofana said in a tweet.

    “Meanwhile passengers who’ve just arrived on an Air Peace flight from Nigeria have also been asked to be quarantined. They’ve refused, citing the (Sierra Leone) government policy which says only passengers from countries with up to 50 confirmed cases of coronavirus should be automatically quarantined,” he said in a follow up tweet.

    Sierra Leone remains one of a handful African countries yet to record a coronavirus case. But like all governments are doing, the presidency released a detailed statement that outlined directives crucially banning overseas travel for all government officials and urged members of the public to heed same.

    An initial statement had directed thus: “Public gatherings should not be attended by more than One Hundred (100) persons,” the second directive read. But a Ministerial team that visited the airport on Monday had urged passengers to adhere to health protocols.

    A statement from the president on the pandemic read: “I have directed the military to immediately deploy to our international airport and land crossing points in order to enhance security and support compliance with all public health directives advisories.”

  • Ex-Int’l Owolabi, others laud Eagles on victory over Guinea

    Ex-Int’l Owolabi, others laud Eagles on victory over Guinea

    Dr Felix Owolabi, ex- Eagles midfielder and other football enthusiasts have commended the Super Eagles for winning their match over Guinea in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

    Owolabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Wednesday that the Eagles displayed high level of patriotism, which gave them the desired victory.

    NAN reports that the Super Eagles’s lone goal, through Kenneth Omeruo, in the second half of the game, gave them the desired victory over their opponents.

    Owolabi, popularly known as `Owo-Blow’, described the match as “fantastic and marvelous”, pointing out that the match was their best in recent times.

    “The Eagles played too much of defensive in the first half of the game. They got more coordinated in the second half, which fortified the attack to secure the lone goal.

    “They displayed high level of patriotism and played like the Eagles of our time. I will love them to keep the tempo going,’’ said elated Owolabi.

    He thanked God that the team has been able to secure six points in the group and urged them to keep the tempo.

    “When they continue with the winning streak, other teams will be afraid of playing them.’’

    For Mr Jubril Mohammed who served as counsel to the late footbal maestro, Rashidi Yekini, the victory ” is well deserved”.

    Mohammed described the match as keenly played, saying the Eagles had to come all out to secure the victory as promised.

    “The transition from the midfield to the attack needs to be worked upon and the attackers must continue to play to instruction,’’ he advised.

    He expressed optimism that the Eagles would do much better in their remaining matches to secure all-round victory at the championship.

    Also, some sports enthusiasts, commended the Super Eagles on their performances so far, urging them not to rest on their oars until they secure the trophy.

  • 2019 AFCON: Five things Super Eagles need to do against Guinea

    2019 AFCON: Five things Super Eagles need to do against Guinea

    Nigeria’s quest for a fourth African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy continues in Alexandria, Egypt as the Super Eagles take on Guinea in their second Group B encounter on Wednesday.

    The Super Eagles are on top of their group with three points, following a narrow 1-0 victory against tournament debutants Burundi on Saturday.

    As 24 teams slug it out in the continent’s most coveted football trophy in its new format, the Super Eagles are definitely one of the favourites to lift the trophy come July 14.

    With two of the three countries making their debut in the tournament in Nigeria’s group, it is expected that the Super Eagles make light work of the group stage.

    Under the new format, the countries that finish first and second in their group are guaranteed second round slots while the best four of the six third-placed teams also qualify.

    The game against Guinea on Wednesday is perhaps the Eagles’ most difficult on paper at the group stage, but in football, anything can happen.

    And that much was proven in the 2-2 draw played out by Guinea and Madagascar in the other first round match in the Super Eagles’ group.

    As the Super Eagles file out against Guinea on Wednesday with the aim of booking a second round ticket, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) looks at five talking points the coaching crew has to address.

    Captain Mikel Obi’s role

    In the game against Burundi, Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi was given an advanced ‘No. 10’ role by Coach Gernot Rohr.

    The creative midfielder role is one the former Chelsea player was comfortable with at international level, even when he played in a more defensive position at club level.

    However, at 32 years old and making a return to the national team after a stint at England’s second division side Middleborough, the coach should consider a deeper role for Obi against Guinea.

    There are even pundits, such as veteran Segun Agbede, who never regard Obi as a number 10.

    “Dear Gernot, playing a statuesque Mikel Obi at 10 in @NGSuperEagles, is an exercise in futility. He lacks both the pace and mobility.

    “Because he wears the number 10 jersey doesn’t make him a 10.

    “Please cease and desist,” Agbede wrote on his Twitter handle.

    A younger Obi could have played in that position more comfortably, but Rohr should consider Stock City’s Oghenekaro Etebo for that role while Obi complements Winifred Ndidi in the heart of the midfield.

    Transition between defence and attack

    The Super Eagles have always thrived on fast movement, with effective ability to convert defence to attack through the channels.

    It was the role Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze were meant to play in the game against Burundi.

    However, many football enthusiasts were unpleased with how Chukwueze particularly held on to the ball for too long, thereby denying Paul Onuachu the opportunity to utilize his body against the defence.

    Ex-International, Mutiu Adepoju, told NAN after the match against Burundi that transition was an aspect the team should work on before the game against Guinea on Wednesday.

    “I commend the boys for a job well done, but going forward I think we need faster transition from defence to midfield and attack.

    “We need to have the ability to surprise our opponents and not to be very predictable,” Adepoju said.

    Tactics should depend on opponents

    If nothing, the 32nd edition of AFCON in Egypt has so far proved two things:

    One, there are no longer minnows in African football and second, to emerge champions, each game should be approached with its own unique tactics.

    The game against Burundi is gone and the Super Eagles face a different challenge in Guinea. The technical crew may have to approach Guinea with an entirely different game plan or tweak that from the Burundi game.

    Timely and apt substitutions

    So far, Rohr seems to know what substitution to make when he needs to change the game as witnessed in the game against Burundi.

    Bitrus Bewarang, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), commended the coach for knowing how to use his substitutions to change the game.

    “After a lacklustre first half by the Eagles’ standard where the Burundians even had two clear-cut chances the game changed in the second half.

    “The second half was livelier than the first because the team came out more and the substitutions made by the coach proved vital to Nigeria’s victory.

    “Gernot Rohr’s substitutions proved to win the match for Nigeria,” he said.

    Of course, Bewarang was referring to the introduction of Ahmed Musa and Idion Ighalo.

    If the Super Eagles find themselves in a situation whereby the game against Guinea wasn’t going as planned, timely and apt substitutions should be made.

    Ighalo has earned his place in starting lineup

    25-year-old Paul Onachu came into the national team based on his exploits with his Danish club FC Midtjylland.

    Young, hungry and determined, the striker will definitely have his time with the Super Eagles, but sometimes experience and being in the team for so long have their advantages.

    That is exactly the case with Ighalo, whose 77th minute strike made the difference against Burundi.

    Nothing motivates a striker more in a tournament like AFCON than to be on the scoring sheet in their opening game.

    Against Burundi, the Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker did just enough to earn a starting role against Guinea on Wednesday.

  • Guinea accepts to host 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

    Guinea has accepted to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations instead of the 2023 edition, a move that confirms Cameroon as the 2021 hosts, the Confederation of African Football president said Monday.

    “I am delighted with this change in the organisation of the calendar that will see the Nations Cup take place in Guinea in 2025 and I am proud that the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde, has himself accepted,” Ahmad Ahmad said.

    Ahmad, who held talks with Conde on Sunday, told reporters it was a similar situation to Cameroon, which will stage the 2021 tournament having been stripped of hosting this year’s edition.

    In 2014, CAF awarded hosting rights to Cameroon (2019), Ivory Coast (2021) and Guinea (2023).

    Following the decision to remove this year’s edition from Cameroon because of severe delays in building stadiums and security concerns, Egypt and South Africa have bid to step in as hosts.

    CAF will announce on Wednesday which of the two countries has won the right to host the tournament, with the clock ticking to the June 15 kickoff.

    Ivory Coast will now host the tournament in 2023.

  • At least 5 killed in protests over Guinea teachers’ strike

    At least five people were killed in Guinea’s capital of Conakry on Tuesday in protests sparked by a teacher’s strike.

    The government said, reviving labour tensions in a country where previous strikes have led to dozens of deaths.

    Unidentified assailants attacked a police station and demonstrators clashed with gendarmes in several districts of Conakry, witnesses said.

    “By midday, these demonstrations had unfortunately caused the deaths of at least five people,’’ the government said in a statement, calling the protest “illegal and forbidden’’.

    Government said that 30 people had been injured, including members of the security forces, and 12 arrested.

    Witnesses said that three of the dead had been shot but it was not possible to verify that information.

    General strikes about 10 years ago caused major disruptions in Guinea, which has around a third of the world’s reserves of bauxite, used to make aluminium.

    The subsequent crackdown led by security forces led to the deaths of 135 people.

    Government spokesperson Damantang Camara later said that a deal to end the strike was signed with Guinea’s main teachers’ unions.

    The unions had launched the strike on Feb. 1 to protest the government’s decision to dismiss or cut the salaries of many junior teachers after the latest civil service exams, and many of their students had taken to the streets in recent days to support them.