Keypoints:
- Guinea dissolves 40 political parties and seals offices nationwide
- Opposition leader Diallo calls for ‘direct resistance’ to Doumbouya
- Decision comes ahead of legislative elections in transition period
GUINEA’S main opposition figure, Cellou Dalein Diallo, has called for ‘direct resistance’ against President Mamady Doumbouya after authorities dissolved dozens of political parties in a sweeping move that has shaken the country’s political landscape.
Diallo, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), said the government’s decision to shut down 40 parties shows that democratic engagement in the country is no longer possible.
The order, issued late last Friday by Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, shut down the headquarters and local branches of the affected parties, banned their symbols and logos, and confiscated their assets.
The decree follows the sweeping crackdown on political organisations that Africa Briefing previously reported had stripped several opposition movements of their legal status ahead of upcoming elections.
The dissolution marks one of the most significant political crackdowns since Doumbouya seized power in a 2021 coup. Analysts say the move raises serious questions about Guinea’s political transition as the country prepares for legislative elections intended to restore civilian rule.
Government cites legal violations
Authorities said the parties were dissolved because they failed to comply with regulatory requirements governing political organisations.
According to the ministry’s decree, the groups did not meet legal obligations including submitting financial statements and administrative documentation required under Guinea’s political party law.
However, several of the parties have rejected the accusations.
Leaders of the dissolved organisations insist they fulfilled all legal obligations and say the government’s claims are politically motivated. According to Reuters, some parties are considering legal challenges to contest the decision.
Opposition warns of political crackdown
Diallo, who is currently living in exile, issued a video statement on social media on Sunday condemning the government’s action.
He said the dissolution order amounted to an open attack on political opposition in Guinea.
‘War has been openly declared on those who oppose Mamady Doumbouya,’ Diallo said.
According to him, the government is seeking to reshape Guinea’s political system by eliminating rivals who could challenge its authority.
‘The head of the junta and his malevolent clique want to rewrite the country’s history by erasing from the political landscape all forces likely to overshadow his nascent one-party state,’ Diallo said.
Doumbouya consolidated his authority after winning the presidency following the 2021 coup, a development that Africa Briefing reported formalised his hold on power after years of military-led transition.
The purge also targeted the Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG), the political party linked to former president Alpha Condé, who was removed from office during the 2021 coup.
Under the decree, party headquarters have been sealed across the country while their assets have been seized.
Legal fight expected
Other political leaders have also criticised the government’s decision.
Jean-Marc Telliano, a former minister and leader of the Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea, said his party would challenge the ban.
‘We will use all legal means to have our rights restored,’ Telliano said, according to Reuters.
Political observers say dissolving such a large number of parties could dramatically reduce political competition and reshape Guinea’s electoral landscape.
The move follows earlier restrictions placed on opposition activity, including the suspension of Diallo’s UFDG party, which Africa Briefing previously reported had been barred from operating ahead of the presidential vote.
Elections approach amid rising tensions
The decision comes only two months after Doumbouya was sworn in as president following elections in which several prominent challengers were prevented from contesting.
The government has presented the vote as part of a transition back to constitutional rule following the military takeover.
But opposition figures and civil society organisations argue that the political environment remains constrained, with critics accusing the authorities of limiting democratic freedoms.
Guinea’s transition has been shaped by plans for constitutional reform and a referendum process that Africa Briefing earlier reported could pave the way for future political restructuring.
The dissolution also comes roughly two months before legislative elections, a crucial step in the transition process.
Analysts say the absence of many established political parties could significantly affect the credibility of the upcoming vote.
Regional pattern of political restrictions
Guinea’s move mirrors developments elsewhere in the Sahel and West Africa, where military-led governments have tightened control over political systems following coups.
Earlier this year, authorities in Burkina Faso also suspended political party activities as military rulers sought to consolidate power.
For Guinea, the escalating confrontation between the government and opposition leaders could shape the country’s political trajectory in the months ahead.
With elections approaching and tensions rising, the question facing Guinea is whether its transition will deliver genuine democratic competition or deepen the political crisis.
