Conakry, Guinea remains open despite coup

Limited flights continue to operate to Conakry despite several airlines having cancelled their services amid reports of a curfew and the closure of land and air borders imposed after Guinean special forces seized power in a coup in the West African country on Sunday.

Air Sénégal (HC, Dakar Blaise Diagne Int’l) in a statement announced it had cancelled two of its flights – HC 209 and HC 201 – between Conakry and Dakar Blaise Diagne Int’l on Sunday out of concern for the safety and security of passengers and crew. However, by Monday and Tuesday, its flights to Dakar were back on the schedule, according to Flightradar24 ASDS-B data. The flights were not bookable on its website though, although the carrier had made no further public announcement.

Air France (AF, Paris CDG)’s Flight AF749 from Paris CDG on Monday had landed and its flights on Tuesday from Freetown and Nouakchott were scheduled, according to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, although they did not appear to be currently bookable on the Air France website. The ASKY Airlines (KP, Lomé) flight from Bamako had also landed on Monday.

Other flights scheduled on Tuesday included those by Maltese charter carrier Luxwing from Toulouse Blagnac, Air Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopian Airlines from Abidjan, and Tunisair from Tunis.

However, Emirates on Monday and Tuesday had diverted its flights to Dakar, and Royal Air Maroc and Turkish Airlines on Monday had cancelled their flights from Casablanca Int’l and Ouagadougou respectively, Flightradar24 ADS-B data showed.

Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that the junta had arrested President Alpha Conde and had announced they would dissolve the constitution. A video sent to AFP by the putschists showed the 83-year-old Conde sitting on a sofa surrounded by troops. An officer also said that Guinea’s land and air borders had been shut and the government dissolved.

Later on Sunday, the army announced a nationwide curfew “until further notice”, saying the country’s governors and other top administrators would be replaced by military personnel. The nation of some 13 million people — one of the world’s poorest countries despite boasting significant mineral resources — has long been beset by political instability.

Outside Guinea, international leaders condemned the latest bout of turmoil in West Africa, a region where many countries are struggling with poverty, inequality, and jihadist bloodshed. The African Union and the United Nations both called for Conde’s release.