Guinea's army briefly locked down the city after reports of gunfire near the presidential palace, but the ruling junta denied the incident. The country remains under military rule since a 2021 coup, with elections planned for next year.

Guinea's army temporarily locked down the city center on Thursday after reports emerged of gunfire near the presidential palace.

A diplomatic official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP), stated that a small group of dissident soldiers opened fire on the special forces stationed around the palace. However, the special forces quickly overpowered the attackers. The official further claimed that the soldiers were loyal to Col. Célestin Bilivogui, whose body had been discovered earlier in the week, a year after his mysterious disappearance following his arrest by the special forces.

Despite these reports, the ruling military junta issued a statement on national television denying the occurrence of gunfire, calling the claims 'fabricated.' The junta encouraged residents to continue their daily activities as normal.

Guinea has been under the control of a military junta since 2021, when soldiers ousted President Alpha Condé. The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, has been pressuring the junta to restore civilian governance, with elections scheduled for next year.

This situation reflects a broader trend in West Africa, where countries such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are also under the rule of military juntas following coups.