Guinea: Short circuit leads to explosions in Conakry Oct. 22

Event

A short circuit at a weapons storage facility located in the Conakry region caused a series of explosions on Sunday, October 22. The incident and an ensuring fire occurred at the Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp, located in the Conakry suburbs. The explosions and fire, which lead to panic among residents in the vicinity of the camp, were quickly brought under control with no casualties reported.

Context

Guinea regularly experiences significant issues related to deficient electricity infrastructure. Fewer than one in five Guineans have access to electricity, leading to lackluster economic development. Areas with connectivity to the electrical grid still experience regular blackouts, including in Conakry. Protests are not uncommon during times of electricity shortages, often leading to the blockage of streets and railroads.

Advice

Individuals in Guinea are advised to be prepared for power outages (keep devices fully charged when possible, etc.) and avoid all protests.