Guinea’s ruling junta on Wednesday rejected a call made by the United Nations to lift a ban on political demonstrations, insisting protests should only be allowed during the election period in three years’ time, reported Africa News.
A military junta led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted elected president Alpha Conde in September last year. The junta declared a ban on political demonstrations on May 13 after announcing a three-year transition period before a civilian rule is restored.
On Monday, the UN’s Human Rights High Commission called for the ban to be revoked, but the junta rejected the appeal.
In a statement, the UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango said Guinea’s transitional authorities should ensure real and meaningful protection of democratic space by upholding the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
He said the junta’s measures are against international human rights norms and standards.
“No march will be authorized so long as public order cannot be guaranteed” in such events, the junta said in a communique read on state TV.
The ruling body noted that hundreds of people lost their lives during violent protests that erupted during the Conde era.
“As a result, nothing can justify marches during this sensitive period of national life in which Guineans have (begun once more) to speak to each other like brothers,” the statement said.
Political parties and protest organizations are becoming increasingly vocal in their protests against Guinea’s ruling junta’s rule and what they claim is the crackdown on the freedom of the people.
The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), a coalition that led anti-Conde protests in 2019 and 2020, called on the public to come together for the resumption of peaceful and civil demonstrations to prevent the confiscation of power and demand a swift return to public order.
