[2] In August 2021, in an attempt to balance the budget, Guinea announced tax hikes, slashed spending on the police and the military, and increased funding for the office of the President and National Assembly.

The coup began on the morning of 5 September, when the Republic of Guinea Armed Forces surrounded Sekhoutoureah Presidential Palace and cordoned off the wider government district.

After a shootout with pro-government forces, the mutineers, who appear to be led by Doumbouya, took Condé hostage, announced the dissolution of the government and its institutions, annulled the constitution, and sealed off the borders.

[11] France distanced itself from Condé following the 2020 election, leaving China, Egypt, Russia and Turkey foremost among the few powerful countries which continued to back the President.

[16] For example, Mamady Condé was arrested in January 2021, while Roger Bamba, the leader of Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), an opposition party, and Mamadou Oury Barry both died in prison.

[21][22] In 2019, the government agreed to the extension of a credit facility with the International Monetary Fund on the basis they would run a fiscal surplus, increase tax collection as a portion of GDP, reduce subsidies for petrol and electricity, increase investment in public infrastructure, reduce borrowing from the central bank and promote development of the private sector.

[24] This programme failed to bring immediate financial benefits for most citizens, with 60% of the labour force still working in the agricultural sector,[25] and the communities around the mines being inadequately compensated for land, water and health losses connected with the mineral extraction.

[29][30] As a result, in January 2021, the government agreed with the National Baker's Union to set the bread price at a higher level, but quickly backpedalled amid a public outcry at a 250-gram loaf increasing from 1500 to 2000 Guinean francs.

[28] The budget included provisions which increased funding of the National Assembly and presidential services but cut off some support for the security forces, such as the police and the military.

[40] A Western diplomat told The Daily Telegraph that the attack was provoked by the government trying to dismiss a senior member of the country's special forces.

[46] Colonel Mamady Doumbouya soon issued a broadcast on state television, Radio Télévision Guinéenne, in which he said the government and its institutions were dissolved, the constitution annulled, and Guinea's land and air borders shut (he later clarified that the country would be closed for at least a week).

[60] Jacques Gbonimy, head of the opposition Union for the Progress of Guinea (UPG), stated in an interview to Guinée Matin that he was not surprised by the coup, maintaining that "all the conditions were met for the army to seize power" and blamed mismanagement of Condé's government for the overthrow.

[38][79][16][74] ECOWAS immediately suspended Guinea's membership, called for the President's unconditional release, and sent envoys to Conakry to attempt a "constitutional" resolution to the situation.

[80][81] On 17 September 2021, a group from ECOWAS – led by the bloc's chair, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, visited Conakry to meet with junta leaders.