Why a coup in Guinea was felt around the world

Name: Why a coup in Guinea was felt around the world
Uploaded: 2021-12-16T08:33:46.000Z
Duration: 9 min 44 s
Description: A coup in mineral-rich Guinea has rattled markets and disrupted mining operations beyond West Africa. The coastal country boasts some of the world's largest reserves of many minerals, including bauxite and iron ore. The military's overthrow of Guinea's long-serving president, Alpha Conde, has added further pressure to already strained supply chains.

A coup in mineral-rich Guinea has rattled markets and disrupted mining operations beyond West Africa. The coastal country boasts some of the world's largest reserves of many minerals, including bauxite and iron ore. The military's overthrow of Guinea's long-serving president, Alpha Conde, has added further pressure to already strained supply chains.

09:44

Thu, Dec 16 20213:33 AM EST

Timothyna Afua Duncan

A coup that took place in a coastal country in West Africa may hit closer to home than you think — with smartphones and power lines potentially being affected.

Why? These items all contain aluminum, and the world's primary source of aluminum is bauxite ore. And Guinea, the country where this coup occurred, has the world's largest bauxite reserves.

On Sept. 5, 2021, gunshots broke out in Guinea's capital, Conakry. Soldiers from the country's special forces had ousted President Alpha Conde, citing corruption as their motivation. In the process, the coup disrupted nearly a decade of political stability in the mineral-rich nation.

Days after, aluminum prices spiked to a 10-year high on the London Metal Exchange. Markets were rattled by the possible disruption to global supply chains.

Watch the video above to find out why a coup in Guinea was felt around the world, and what this latest blow means for consumers and businesses around the world.