Heavy gunfire heard Tuesday morning in Conakry’s administrative district of Kaloum was linked to a coordinated operation at Conakry Central Prison that resulted in the extraction of a high-profile inmate, according to emerging reports from Xinhua and local security sources.
Witnesses said hooded, heavily armed men entered the prison compound at around 09:00 GMT amid intense gunfire that lasted approximately 30 minutes. The operation reportedly ended with the removal of Commander Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité, widely known as “Toumba,” who was taken to an undisclosed location.
Diakité, a former aide-de-camp to ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, was sentenced in July 2024 to 10 years in prison for his role in the September 28, 2009 stadium massacre, one of Guinea’s darkest episodes. More than 150 people were killed when security forces opened fire on opposition supporters gathered at a stadium in Conakry.
Heightened Security in Kaloum
The Kaloum district, which houses both the central prison and the presidential palace, was swiftly placed under high alert following the incident. Armored personnel carriers and machinegun-mounted vehicles from the Special Forces were deployed throughout the area.
Police and military units initially blocked access routes to the prison and surrounding government buildings. By midday, some roads were reportedly reopened, though a heavy security presence remained stationed directly outside the prison complex. Authorities have not issued an official casualty count, but witnesses reported seeing at least three ambulances leaving the area during and after the gunfire.
Political Implications
The extraction comes just weeks after Guinea’s December 28, 2025 presidential election, in which junta leader Mamady Doumbouya secured a landslide victory. The apparent breach of one of the country’s most heavily guarded facilities represents a significant challenge to the new administration’s security posture.
The incident also revives memories of a November 2023 jailbreak in which Moussa Dadis Camara himself was briefly freed before being recaptured, raising renewed questions about internal security, loyalty within the armed forces, and the state’s ability to protect politically sensitive detainees.
As of Tuesday evening, the government had not released an official statement confirming Diakité’s extraction or detailing the circumstances of the operation. Investigations are expected to focus on how the attackers gained access to the prison and whether the operation involved internal assistance.
Incident at a Glance — February 10, 2026
- Primary Target: Aboubacar “Toumba” Diakité (extracted)
- Duration of Gunfire: Approximately 30 minutes
- Government Response: Heavy deployment of Special Forces in Kaloum
- Casualties: No official confirmation
Further updates are expected as authorities assess the security breach and its broader political ramifications.
