Guinea's military junta has lodged a protest with Russia's ambassador after the embassy issued a warning about possible unrest in the capital, Conakry.
The warning came after junta leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya dissolved the government on Monday and ordered the closure of all borders.
Ambassador Alexey Popov reportedly apologized to the junta for what he termed a misunderstanding, according to Guinean media.
Colonel Doumbouya seized power in a coup in 2021 and dissolved the government on Monday without providing any explanation. He also ordered the seizure of passports belonging to sacked ministers and froze their bank accounts.
According to Guinean media, the decision by Colonel Doumbouya prompted the Russian embassy in Guinea to advise Russian nationals to remain vigilant as there could be unrest in Conakry, the capital of the West African state.
The junta responded angrily, with an official from its foreign ministry summoning Mr. Popov to a meeting.
“I explained that it was a misunderstanding, a false translation of what was published. The announcement was published only in Russian for Russian citizens,” Mr Popov stated, as reported by Guinea's state-owned television and radio.
The junta accepted the apology, and Mr. Popov assured that the incident would not impact relations between the two nations.
Guinea is among several former French colonies in West Africa that have experienced coups in recent years.
The juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which seized power, have shown a leaning towards Russia while adopting a hostile stance towards France and the West African regional bloc, Ecowas.
However, Colonel Doumbouya has sought to maintain good relations with all parties. He has pledged to organize elections to restore democratic rule by the end of 2024.
The junta banned all demonstrations in 2022 and has detained several opposition leaders and members of civil society groups.
Colonel Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Condé in September 2021, citing rampant corruption, human rights violations, and economic mismanagement as reasons for the military's intervention.
Mr. Condé, Guinea's first democratically elected president, came to power in 2010 following the end of military rule. He was re-elected in 2015 but faced protests in 2019 when he amended the constitution to seek a third term.