In a ministerial decree published in the evening of Monday August 8th, the Guinean Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Mory Condé, announced the dissolution of the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) – a coalition of political parties, trade unions and civil society actors – which had organised nationwide demonstrations against the constitutional amendments, and the third term of deposed President Alpha Conde (2010-2021), who was ousted in a military coup on September 5, 2021. 

The minister’s decision to describe the FNDC as a “de facto grouping” has no legal basis. As evidence, law L/2005/013/AN defining the status of associations in the Republic of Guinea and law L/2015/009 on Maintaining Public Order in Guinea, among other legal instruments the authorities cited in their decree make no mention of any “de facto grouping“.

This decision is also in clear violation of Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Articles 34 and 8 paragraph 2 of the Guinean Transitional Charter.

Earlier on the night of Friday to Saturday July 30th 2022, hooded and heavily armed soldiers arrested the national coordinator of the FNDC, Oumar Sylla alias Foniké Mengué, at his home. A few days later, Ibrahima Diallo, head of operations for the citizen’s movement, and Saikou Yaya Barry, executive secretary of the Union des Forces Républicaines (UFR), a Guinean opposition party, were also arrested and are placed under a detention order at the central prison in Conakry.

They are charged with “participating in a prohibited gathering, looting, destruction of public and private property, arson and intentional assault and battery” in connection with the July 28th and 29th demonstrations that security forces violently repressed leading officially to five dead and dozen injured.

AfricTivistes is seriously preoccupied by the worsening human rights situation in Guinea and the narrowing of civic space under the leadership of the military junta.  We deplore the lack of sincere dialogue that has led to a political stalemate in the country.

AfricTivistes calls on the transitional authorities to refrain from escalating the situation, to reconsider their decision to dissolve the citizen’s movement, to lift the ban on demonstrations that has been in force since May, and to guarantee citizens the exercise of their rights and freedoms.

We also call on the transitional government to favour consultation and dialogue for a rapid end to the crisis by facilitating the organisation of free and transparent elections within a reasonable timeframe.

AfricTivistes demands that the Guinean transitional government investigates the cases of deaths and human rights violations that occurred during the demonstrations.