On Monday, the new rulers of Guinea sent messages of reassurance at home and abroad, a day after they ousted the president, took him to an unknown location, and closed the country's ports until further notice.

The leader of the putschists in Guinea tried to reassure foreign partners and investors by declaring that the military council that seized power would maintain its commitments, and also asked the mining companies to continue their activities.

Colonel Mamady Domboya said that the committee set up by the putschists reassures "the economic and financial partners of the follow-up of normal activities in the country."

"The committee assures the partners that it will fulfill all its obligations," he added.

Domboya pledged to form a "national unity government" responsible for leading a political "transition", and stressed that there would be no "hunting campaigns" for the previous authority.

 He said that "consultations will be opened to set the outlines of the transition, and after that a national unity government will be formed to manage the transition," without specifying the duration of the consultations or the transition.

 The putschists had called ministers and heads of institutions to a meeting on Monday at 11:00 (UTC) at the parliament headquarters, without revealing any details, and warned that "any refusal to attend will be considered a rebellion."

On the other hand, a curfew was imposed in the Guinean capital, and soldiers set up barricades at the entrance to the city center, controlled by elements of the special forces supported by men from the Airborne Forces battalion.

Justifications for the coup

Guinean special forces commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Domboya say they arrested the head of state to put an end to "financial mismanagement, poverty and endemic corruption", or to "abuse justice (and) violate the rights of citizens".

On Sunday, the commander of the Special Forces of Guinea Conakry, Colonel Mamady Domboya, announced the removal of President Alpha Conde.

In a statement to the citizens, he said, "We have decided to dissolve the institutions and the government and close the land and air borders, and we turn to those who are interested in completing their work in a normal manner."

Subsequently, the military council that seized power announced the imposition of a curfew throughout the country until further notice, as well as the replacement of military men with conservatives.

Guinean special forces soldiers arresting President Alpha Condé (John Afrique Magazine)

The putschists broadcast a video of arrested President Alpha Conde, sitting on a sofa, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and refusing to answer when asked if he was mistreated.

Military sources reported that the president was taken to an undisclosed location, and that the rebels arrested senior government officials.

It is noteworthy that Guinea has the largest reserves of bauxite in the world, an ore used in the production of aluminum.

The coup sent aluminum metal prices to a 10-year high on Monday on fears of further supply disruptions.

international condemnations

For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly" condemned in a tweet "any seizure of power by force of arms" in Guinea.

Guterres called for the "immediate release of President Alpha Condé", and the African Union condemned the army's seizure of power in Guinea, and demanded the immediate release of President Alpha Condé.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has demanded the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea, and has threatened sanctions unless the president is immediately released.

"We urge the parties in Guinea to respect the constitution, renounce violence, and abide by the rule of law," the State Department said.

On Sunday evening, Paris condemned the "attempt to seize power by force" in Guinea, calling for the "immediate and unconditional release of President (Alpha) Conde," according to a statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry.

The State of Qatar condemned the military coup in the Republic of Guinea and the arrest of the President, and called on all parties to avoid escalation, give voice to wisdom and pursue dialogue to overcome the crisis in the country.

On Monday, Russia called for the immediate release of Guinean President Alpha Conde, and the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "Russia opposes any attempt to change the leadership outside the framework of the constitution."