UN slams Guinea coup plotters, demands Alpha Condé’s release

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday condemned the coup d’etat in Guinea and demanded the immediate release of President Alpha Condé.
According to reports, the fate of Guinea’s president is unclear after an unverified video showed him surrounded by soldiers who said they had seized power.
They appeared on national TV, claiming to have dissolved the government.
However, the defence ministry said the presidential guard had thwarted the attempted takeover.
This followed hours of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace in the capital, Conakry.
“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,’’ Mr Guterres tweeted.
Similarly, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the apparent coup and demanded the immediate release of Mr Condé.
In a statement on Sunday, ECOWAS described the action as a clear violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, demanding the immediate return to constitutional order.
President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, who is also the chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, stated that ECOWAS demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Condé, as well as others, arrested.
“ECOWAS reaffirms its disapproval of any unconstitutional political change,” Mr Akufo-Addo stated. “It asks the defence and security forces to remain in a posture republican and expresses its solidarity with the Guinean people and government.”
(NAN)
More from Peoples Gazette

Politics
Kaduna Election: PDP defeats APC, wins Jaba LGA
Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission has declared Phillip Gwada (PDP) as the winner of Saturday’s chairmanship election in the Jaba local government area.

Economy
Crypto ransom payments hit $81.6 million in five months: Report
Victims have transferred $81.6 million worth of cryptocurrencies as ransom payments to cybercriminals in five months of 2021, data by BlockArabia shows.

Health
One billion people including Nigerians suffering from hypertension: The Lancet
One billion people, including Nigerians, are currently suffering from hypertension, a recent study by The Lancet has revealed.

World
German ambassador dies two weeks into job in China
Germany’s new ambassador to China, Jan Hecker, has died shortly after taking up his post, the Foreign Office confirmed Monday.

Economy
El Salvador makes history, becomes first country to make Bitcoin official currency
In preparation for its adoption, the country has commenced installing Bitcoin ATMs to enable citizens to convert cryptocurrency into dollars and withdraw it in cash.

States
Buhari should act fast to stop bandits moving kidnapped Nigerians to Benin Republic: Emir of Borgu
President Muhammadu Buhari should act fast and deploy troops to Borgu to stop bandits from moving kidnapped district heads and other Nigerians to the Benin Republic.