Guinean security forces on Thursday fired at anti-government protesters in Conarky, injuring at least five of them, an opposition coalition said, reported The Reuters.
The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), which had called for the anti-government protest, said five people were injured in the firing, one of whom was in critical condition.
The protesters demanding the ruling military junta that took power in a September 2021 coup to restore civilian rule set up road blocks across the city and burnt tyres. They clashed with security forces, who responded with tear gas and live bullets.
“Five suffered gunshot wounds. One is in critical condition,” the FNDC said in a statement.
There have been sporadic protests across Guinean cities since the government was overthrown and replaced with military leaders that have failed to fulfil promises to hand power back to civilians.
Coup leader and interim President Mamady Doumbouya has proposed a 36-month transition to elections, which opposition politicians and regional leaders have rejected. The junta banned all public demonstrations following criticism of the 36-month timeline. The FNDC, which is an alliance of political parties, trade unions and civil groups, was also officially dissolved in August by the junta-appointed government.
A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently in Guinea to discuss a more “reasonable” transition timeline.
Last month, the 15-member West African bloc imposed sanctions on the Guinean military junta over its failure to fix a date to organise elections and restore democracy after seizing power last year. It said that the transition government did not make satisfactory progress towards establishing a transition timeline and organizing elections.
The sanctions included freezing financial assets of Guinean military junta members and barring them from travelling to other countries in the region. The bloc had imposed even broader sanctions on Mali earlier this year after its ruling junta also postponed organising elections.
