Guinea’s ruling junta has placed the three main political parties under observation and dissolved 53 others in what it describes as a significant political “clean-up,” according to an official document obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
This assessment of political parties comes just two months before the junta’s self-imposed deadline to return power to civilians, a commitment it initially made under international pressure but has since indicated it will not meet by the end of 2024.
Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, the junta has cracked down on dissent, detaining many opposition leaders, bringing them to trial, or forcing them into exile.
The report from the ministry of territorial administration, which conducted the evaluation, called it the “first operation of its kind in Guinea,” citing a need to “clean up the political arena.” It highlighted issues such as non-compliance with legislation, including the absence of registered national offices, valid licenses, or transparent financial accounts for many parties.
Additionally, the report noted that a lack of regulation has led to “numerous incidents of abuse” in the exercise of public freedoms by party leaders and activists, posing risks to Guinea’s social stability.
Of the 211 political parties evaluated, 53 were dissolved, 54 were suspended for three months, and 67 were placed “under observation” for three months, after which they could face suspension if issues are not addressed. The ministry did not evaluate 37 other parties.
Among those placed under observation are the three main anti-junta parties, including the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG), led by former civilian president Alpha Conde, who was ousted in the 2021 coup. The leaders of all three parties are currently in exile.
The report did not mention any plans for a return to civilian rule in the resource-rich yet impoverished nation. Some government members have expressed support for junta leader General Mamady Doumbouya to run in a future presidential election, despite his initial promise not to do so.
In 2022, the junta banned all demonstrations, and the ongoing crackdown on unauthorized protests has resulted in numerous fatalities, according to human rights organizations and civil society groups.
