GUINEA: Wave of arrests of protesters against a third term in office

On 14 November 2019, as they took part in a protest against a possible third term for President Alpha Condé, who has been in power since 2010, Alseny Farinta CAMARA, a member of Africtivistes and the Guinean Bloggers Association (ABLOGUI), as well as four other members of the local branch of the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), were arrested.

They were taken immediately to Kindia Civil Prison, in flagrant violation of all relevant procedures.

Witnesses report that some of them, including blogger Alsény Farinta Camara, were assaulted by the security forces. Since their arbitrary detention on 14 November 2019, we have still not been informed of the charges against these activists, and their conditions of detention are a cause for concern.

Africtivistes denounces the violent repression used by Mr Alpha Condé’s government against citizens who are peacefully protesting his unconstitutional bid for a third term in Guinea.

Since 14 October 2019, when protests against the proposed new Constitution began, more than 15 people have been killed, numerous arrests have been made and many people have been seriously injured. Guinea’s Fundamental Law, along with all regional and international conventions ratified by Guinea, guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

Africtivistes condemns the killings of citizens and demands the release of everyone detained in the country’s prisons.

Africtivistes calls on the Guinean government to launch thorough and independent investigations to identify and punish those responsible for the crimes and abuses that are becoming increasingly frequent in the country’s major cities.