Guinea: A blogger’s fight for more freedom of expression

Army putschists in the west African nation of Guinea say they have captured President Alpha Conde and dissolved the government, after gunfire was heard in the country’s capital and troops seen on the streets.

A source told DW that the president has been detained by special forces in a coup attempt. Groups of civilians took to the streets of Conakry to celebrate the apparent military takeover.

Light traffic resumed while some shops reopened, but uncertainty remained over the possibility of unrest. Junta officials were set to meet in the morning to discuss the transfer of power.

The optics play to old stereotypes about Africa: men in fatigues holding the deposed president who has outlasted his stay. In 2010, Alpha Condé became Guinea's first civilian president to win through the ballot box. We ask if the once courageous opposition leader lost his way when he saw fit to lift term limits to hang on to power.

The soldiers who ousted Guinean President Alpha Conde have moved quickly to quash any resistance. Guineans have mixed feelings about the coup, while analysts say Conde is partly to blame for the situation.

The man behind the coup in Guinea Conakry says he wants a peaceful transition. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya calls a meeting of ministers of ousted president Alpha Condé after banning them from leaving the country and dissolving the government. We take a closer look in this special edition.

Opposition activists welcomed the news, but say the military has yet to make good on its word. Ousted President Alpha Conde has been seen on video, but would not answer questions about whether he was being mistreated.

West Africa's leaders will hold an emergency ECOWAS summit on Guinea on Wednesday amid fears the military takeover could spark further instability in the region. But ECOWAS faces its own credibility problem.

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni condemned this week's coup d’état in Guinea, describing it as "a step backwards". The Ugandan president said the coup leaders should face sanctions and "get out". Museveni also discussed several other security topics concerning Africa, as well as the Afghan crisis.

The ECOWAS bloc called on Guinea to return to "normal constitutional order" after President Alpha Conde was deposed in a coup by special forces.

West African leaders from ECOWAS are preparing to meet in Conakry. The influential economic bloc suspended the country after this week's military takeover and told coup leaders to release deposed president Alpha Condé. Also on the show, we take a look at how South Africa's vaccination drive is faring. And in the same country, we meet a Black Free Dive instructor who is making waves in her community.

The move comes after a military junta arrested President Alpha Conde and suspended the country's constitution.