“We will no longer entrust politics to a man. We will entrust it to the people. We come only for this; the duty of a soldier is to save the country,” Guinea’s army officer Mamady Doumbouya says in the video.
An adviser to President Alpha Conde told CNN that Conde is under arrest and that a coup has taken place in the West African country.
The location of the 83-year-old, who won a hotly contested election last year, is unclear.
In the video, Doumbouya, wearing a special forces uniform, says they have arrested Conde and suspended the constitution, the government and all other institutions. He also announced the closure of land and air borders. The local media have spread and disseminated the video.
Declared curfew, summoned by former ministers
In a subsequent update that aired on state television, military officials declared a curfew across the country and said Conde was unharmed.
“We want to reassure the national and international community, the physical and moral integrity of the former president (Alpha Conde) is not threatened,” a military official said, according to a translation published by Reuters. “We took all necessary steps to ensure that he had access to medical care and was in contact with his doctors.”
No clear evidence of Conde’s state was provided and CNN has been unable to verify the military officer’s claims.
Officials went on to say a nationwide curfew had been declared in Guinea. “The curfew is being implemented from 8pm, across the country, and that until further notice,” an official said, reading a statement.
Officials also invited outgoing ministers and former heads of institutions to a meeting at 11 a.m. Monday.
“Any lack of assistance will be considered a rebellion against the CNRD,” they said, referring to the name of the group, which in French represents the National Rally and Development Committee.
“Sustained traits”
The shootings erupted on Sunday in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, in what appeared to be an attempted coup, according to various social media posts and witnesses who spoke to CNN.
According to videos shared on social media, heavily armed soldiers were present in the Kaloum area of Conakry, where many government buildings are located.
A popular video appeared to show Conde surrounded by Guinean soldiers.
“It’s time for us to understand each other, to shake hands, to sit down, to write a constitution that fits our realities, capable of solving our problems,” Doumbouya said in the video.
Another video circulating on social media showed foxes cheering on military vehicles and waving flags in the capital.
CNN has not independently verified the authenticity of the videos.
Condemned takeover bid
The US State Department warned that the apparent coup could hamper support from Guinea’s international partners.
“Violence and any extra-constitutional measures will only erode Guinea’s prospects for peace, stability and prosperity,” the department said in a statement on Sunday. “These actions could limit the ability of other international partners in the United States and Guinea to support the country as it navigates a path to national unity and a brighter future for the people of Guinea.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the African Union (AU) condemned what it called “seizure of power”.
According to the statement, the President of the AU, HE Felix Tshisekedi, and the President of the AU Commission, HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for the “immediate release of President Alpha Conde”.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for Conde’s release as reports of the apparent coup unfolded.
CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne, Sharif Paget and Susannah Cullinane contributed to this report.