Security Updates

Current Situation

As of 9 September, a nightly 22:00 – 06:00 curfew continues to be in place until further notice. As of Thursday, the usual traffic and street hawkers were once again clogging the streets of the capital city, Conakry. The only roads still manned by military checkpoints are those leading towards the Kaloum peninsula, the capital’s administrative centre and the location of the presidential palace.

A delegation from West Africa’s main political and economic bloc ECOWAS is due to arrive in Conakry on Thursday 9 September, just a day after the bloc suspended Guinea’s membership in response to the 5 September coup. A statement released by ECOWAS disclosed that its representatives will “assess the situation” following Sunday’s ouster of President Alpha Condé. ECOWAS however made no mention of any possible sanctions against the coup regime or its leader Mahamdy Doumbouya. The delegation will be led by the 15-nation group’s president, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, and Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchway.

On 8 September, ECOWAS announced the suspension of Guinea’s membership in the wake of the coup. During a virtual summit, leaders of the 15-member ECOWAS demanded a return to the constitutional order and Condé’s immediate release. While ECOWAS previously imposed sanctions on Mali shortly after a coup in that country in August 2020, it is believed that ECOWAS’s leverage with Guinea could be limited, in part because the country is not a member of the West African currency union and is not landlocked like Mali. ECOWAS’s response to West Africa’s latest coup is being closely watched amidst criticism from pro-democracy advocates that it has not stood up robustly enough in recent months against democratic backsliding in West Africa. The bloc remained silent last year as Condé and Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara sought third terms in office after changing constitutions that would have enforced them to step down, moves that were denounced as illegal by their opponents.

Meanwhile coup leader Col Doumbouya continues to consolidate his support base. On 8 September, he met with ambassadors from Russia, China, Turkey, France and the United States. He has also met with Jordanian military instructors in hopes of developing a programme to train an elite anti-terrorism unit, according to Guinea’s state broadcaster. On 8 September, Doumbouya, in an effort to sweep away any leadership associated with Condé’s administration, ordered that all Guinea’s police and gendarmerie commanders be replaced by their deputies.

MS Risk Advisory

Movement restrictive measures, telecommunications disruptions, and disruptions to state and business operations are likely to continue in the coming days. Clashes between rival security force factions may also continue after clashes erupted on 5 September resulting in the death of five military personnel. Further public gatherings in response to developments are likely nationwide and these could be in favour of the coup or in support of the Condé government. Any gathering is likely to be met by a security force deployment. Clashes are possible at all protest locations.

Anyone considering travelling to Guinea is advised to defer travel until the situation stabilizes. Anyone currently in Guinea, including in Conakry and in other major city centres, is advised to monitor the local media and to maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Avoid concentrations of security personnel. Avoid all protests as they may turn violent with little warning. Plan for road travel delays and reconfirm all scheduled transport services, including flights, prior to departure.