Conakry, Guinea – While soldiers seized airwaves on September 5 to declare a coup, life in Guinea’s capital continues with surprising calm. CGTN contributor Xiaopeng captured a slice of everyday resilience: children laughing and chasing a soccer ball in a sunlit neighborhood, framed by the hum of distant political upheaval.
🚨 The coup announcement sparked international alarm, but locals appear cautiously unfazed. \"You’d barely know there’s a crisis unless you turn on the news,\" Xiaopeng told us via WhatsApp. His footage shows markets operating, taxis honking through dusty streets, and families gathering at dusk – a quiet defiance of chaos.
⚽ The viral clip of kids playing ‘foot’ (as soccer’s known locally) has become symbolic. \"Ball games don’t stop for presidents,\" tweeted one Guinean student, capturing the mood. Analysts suggest the military’s swift takeover – without street clashes – limited disruption to daily life… for now.
🌆 As night falls over Conakry, unanswered questions linger about Guinea’s future. But today, at least, the goalposts haven’t moved.
