Guinea’s opposition movement has called for a new wave of protests against President Alpha Conde’s controversial bid to run for a third term in October’s presidential election, reported Africa News.
Conde became the country’s first democratically elected president in 2010 and was re-elected for a second time in 2015. In October last year, the 82-year-old leader pushed through constitutional reforms so he could run for a third term. The constitutional change reset the president’s term, enabling him to run for a third term in the vote set for October 18 in the poor West African state of 13 million.
Conde’s decision to reset the president’s term led to violent clashes in the country, claiming several dozen lives.
“Our citizens’ movement calls on the population of Conakry and the surrounding area to join a series of peaceful marches, starting on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, to demand Mr. Alpha Conde’s departure,” said, Abdourahmane Sanoh, one of Guinea’s opposition movement leaders.
“The people of Guinea are urged to mobilise massively, in the greatest civic responsibility… to block” Conde, he said.
He described Conde as a dictator who just wants to stay in power for the rest of his life.
The opposition accuses him of cracking down on dissent and follow the footsteps of other African leaders who have amended constitution to continue being in power.
The opposition’s announcement came hours after Conde declared coronavirus restrictions in the country would be extended for another month. The restrictions include bans of gatherings of more than 100 people, meaning the protests could be declared illegal.
Human rights defenders and the opposition accuse the authorities of using the coronavirus pandemic to repress protests and political rallies ahead of the vote. But rallies held by government supporters in recent days have been allowed.
Guinea has officially reported 10,111 coronavirus cases and 63 deaths.
