Gambiaj.com – (CONAKRY, Guinea) – Gunshots heard early Tuesday morning near Conakry’s central prison have been linked to a tense standoff involving high-profile detainee Aboubacar Diakité, widely known as Toumba, Guinean authorities have confirmed. Toumba Diakité is rmembered in Guinea for his role in a 2009 attack on the residence of then-captain Moussa Dadis Camara.
The shots were reported in the Coronthie area in the early hours of Tuesday, 10 February 2026, sparking alarm among nearby residents.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, the incident followed Toumba Diakité’s refusal to submit to an unannounced security operation carried out inside the Maison Centrale de Conakry a day earlier.
In a statement, the prosecution said the surprise control and search operation conducted on 10th February led to the seizure of several prohibited items from inmates, including mobile phones, psychotropic substances, and bladed objects such as knives, scissors, and forks.
However, during the operation, Toumba Diakité, a former military officer convicted in connection with the 28 September 2009 stadium massacre, allegedly adopted what authorities described as “an aggressive and threatening posture“.
The prosecutor’s office said he not only refused to be searched but also issued threats against prison security personnel, creating heightened tension among other detainees.
Security sources indicated that Toumba’s defiance inflamed emotions within the prison, prompting some inmates to attempt to confront guards.
In response, security forces reportedly fired warning shots to regain control, accounting for the gunfire heard outside the prison compound on Tuesday morning.
Amid growing instability, prison authorities decided to remove Toumba Diakité from the Conakry central prison.
In a communiqué issued around midday, General Prosecutor Fallou Doumbouya announced that Toumba was transferred on Tuesday to the Coyah central prison, a facility known for its stricter and more rigid detention regime.
“The administration took a lawful and appropriate decision to transfer Mr. Aboubacar Diakité, known as ‘Toumba,’ in order to preserve order and ensure the safety of both detainees and prison staff,” the statement said, describing the situation as a serious threat to the security of the establishment.
Several non-official sources, however, claim that Toumba’s forced extraction by military personnel triggered unrest among inmates, some of whom reportedly revolted against the decision, leading to scenes of chaos inside the prison. After a period of turmoil, calm was eventually restored, according to the same sources.
Authorities have not reported any casualties and insist that the situation is now fully under control.
