The military in Guinea stated on Sunday they’d arrested the nation’s chief, President Alpha Condé and staged a coup, in keeping with the Agence France Presse, AFP.

This the most recent political upheaval to roil the impoverished west African nation, as the federal government insisted it had repelled the assault.

“We have now determined, after having taken the president, to dissolve the structure,” stated a uniformed officer flanked by troopers toting assault rifles in a video despatched to AFP.

The officer additionally stated that Guinea’s land and air borders have been shut and the federal government dissolved.

However the scenario remained unclear as Conde’s authorities launched a rival assertion saying that an assault on the presidential palace by particular forces had been “repulsed”.

One other video despatched to AFP by the putschists confirmed a rumpled-looking President Alpha Conde sitting on a settee, surrounded by troops. He refused to reply a query from one soldier about whether or not he was being mistreated.

Guinea — one of many world’s poorest international locations regardless of boasting vital mineral assets — has lengthy been beset by political instability.

Earlier on Sunday, residents of the capital Conakry’s Kaloum district, the federal government quarter, reported listening to heavy gunfire.

Talking on situation of anonymity for his or her security, they reported seeing various troopers on the streets who known as on residents to return to their houses and keep there.

A Western diplomat in Conakry, who additionally declined to be named, stated the unrest began after the dismissal of a senior commander within the particular forces — upsetting a few of its extremely skilled members to insurgent and occupy the presidential palace.