The World Today
MADRID, 23 (EUROPA PRESS)
Guinea's military junta has ordered a 90-day suspension of activities for the country's three main political parties, one week before the start of campaigning for a controversial referendum to revise the constitution, which critics suspect could pave the way for coup leader General Mamady Doumbouya to remain in power.
In a statement published by the country's media, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Elhadj Ibrahima Kalil Condé, argues that the decision was taken because the three organizations—the Guinean People's Assembly of former President Alpha Condé; the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, of former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo; and the Renewal and Progress Party—have "failed to comply with requirements established in an evaluation report," according to the Guinee Matin website.
This argument served as the basis for the military junta to dissolve more than 50 political parties and place 67 others under surveillance in October of last year.
The Guinean opposition has accused Doumbouya's military junta of waging a relentless persecution of its critics since seizing power by force in a 2021 coup. The general has banned all demonstrations since 2022 and has arrested, prosecuted, or exiled several opposition leaders.
The general had promised to hold a constitutional referendum and hand over power to an elected civilian government by the end of 2024, something that ultimately did not happen, amid speculation that he might run in future elections.
