TENSIONS have erupted in Guinea’s capital, with parts of the city under lockdown as civil society and opposition groups protest the ruling junta’s failure to meet its democracy transition deadline. The unrest follows the military government’s unfulfilled commitment to launch elections by December 31, 2024.
Adding to the political crisis, opposition leader Aliou Bah h
as been sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly ‘insulting’ junta leader Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Bah, head of the Liberal Democratic Movement, remains one of the few vocal critics of the regime still in Guinea. His lawyer, Antoine Pépé Lama, condemned the verdict, calling it ‘a sad day for freedom of expression and a blow to Guinean democracy.’
Junta’s empty promises spark outrage
Despite agreeing in 2022 to transition to civilian rule, Doumbouya has failed to deliver. Instead of setting election dates, his New Year’s address vaguely promised a decree for a constitutional referendum, sparking accusations that the junta is stalling to extend its grip on power.
The Forces Vives de Guinée coalition urged citizens to protest by staying indoors, accusing the junta of holding Guinea ‘hostage’. The latest unrest has already seen one fatality and hundreds of arrests, mostly targeting young demonstrators.
International pressure mounts
The US State Department has called on Guinea’s military leaders to set concrete election timelines and involve civil society and political parties in the process. ‘The United States is concerned that Guinea has not met its January 1, 2025, target date to launch its democratic transition,’ the statement read.
Beyond missing election deadlines, fears are growing over credibility and fairness. Last year, the junta dissolved over 50 political parties, claiming it was to “clean up the political chessboard”. Meanwhile, press freedoms have been eroded, with journalists facing arrests, attacks, and media blackouts.
With Guin
ea’s democratic future in limbo, opposition groups vow to intensify resistance, while the junta shows no signs of loosening its grip.
