The streets of Conakry, Guinea’s capital, came to a standstill on Thursday as protests marked three years since the military seized power in a 2021 coup. The protest movement, called by opposition groups, aimed to denounce the military-led government’s crackdown on dissent and demand a return to civilian rule by the end of 2024.
Despite the peaceful intentions of the protest, Guinea’s junta, led by General Mamady Doumbouya, has continued to suppress opposition. The military government, which took power in September 2021, has banned all demonstrations since 2022. According to Amnesty International, at least 47 people have been killed in the junta’s clampdown on dissent between 2021 and 2024.
The latest unrest saw the death of a woman who was fatally shot while in a taxi during clashes between police and protesters in the Sofonia area of Conakry on Wednesday. Torrential rain and fear of violence left the streets deserted on Thursday, with businesses and public transport grinding to a halt.
Public discontent grows
Initially, the junta had promised to return power to elected civilians by the end of 2024, but this commitment has shown signs of weakening. Retired civil servant Malick Sidibe voiced his frustration with the junta’s broken promises, stating, ‘It is unacceptable that a colonel, now a general, cannot keep his promise without any pressure,’ he told AFP. Many in Guinea share similar sentiments, with citizens expressing growing disappointment in the military government’s actions.
‘I don’t have the words to explain our president’s about-turn,’ said Ansoumane Camara, a doctor in Conakry, though he remained hopeful that General Doumbouya could still offer ‘good surprises.’
Doumbouya, who is currently attending a summit in China along with other African leaders, has not scheduled any official events to commemorate the anniversary of the coup that ousted civilian president Alpha Conde after a decade in power.
READ ALSO:
17 Pupils Die In Devastating Fire At Kenya Boarding School
Paralympics: Onyinyechi Mark Wins Nigeria’s First Gold Medal
Gunmen kidnap PDP Chieftain, Akika, In Oyo
Petrol Ex-Depot Price Hits N754/litre
Nigerian Govt Gives Traders One Month To Crash Prices
Tinubu Summons Oshiomole Over Barrenness Troll On Obaseki’s Wife
Ongoing repression
Under Doumbouya’s rule, opposition leaders and pro-democracy activists have faced arrests, exile, or forced disappearances. Two prominent activists, Oumar Sylla (also known as Fonike Mengue) and Mamadou Billo Bah, have been missing since July, with their disappearances drawing international concern. While Guinea’s public prosecutor denied involvement and has ordered an investigation, the activists’ families have accused the junta of ‘kidnapping.’
In an open letter, the wives of the missing activists called on the people of Guinea and the international community to recognise the junta’s attempt to ‘eliminate our husbands.’
International responses to the junta’s actions have been cautious. The US embassy in Conakry expressed concern in August about the activists’ disappearance, but other nations, such as France, have remained relatively silent. This is seen by some analysts as an effort to avoid being sidelined, as happened in the Sahel region.
Media crackdown
The junta’s grip on power has extended to the media and civil society, with Guinea’s authorities revoking the licenses of four leading private radio stations and two television channels in May. This week, the government further tightened its control, suspending the registration of NGOs and social movements, accusing them of disturbing public order.
Despite the repression, opposition groups in Guinea continue to push for a return to democracy, with growing frustration among citizens as they struggle under military rule. As the country reflects on three years since the coup, the future of Guinea’s political landscape remains uncertain, with both local and international eyes on the military government’s next steps.
africabriefing
