Guinea dissolves 40 political parties, including main opposition groups

The authorities in Guinea have issued a decree dissolving forty political parties, including three main opposition groups. The decision, published in the official gazette, has drawn sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. Among the parties slated for dissolution are the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) led by Cellou Dalein Diallo, the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) of former president Alpha Condé, and the Guinean Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD). The ruling military junta justifies this step as necessary to bring order to political life and enforce administrative regulations that the parties allegedly failed to comply with. Guinea, a former French colony, gained independence in 1958. Its political history is marked by periods of authoritarian rule and coups d'état. After the death of long-term president Lansana Conté in 2008, power was seized in a coup by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara. A brief period of democratization under the presidency of Alpha Condé, who took office in 2010, was interrupted by another coup in September 2021, when a military junta under the leadership of Colonel Mamady Doumbouya took control of the country. The opposition's reaction was immediate and decisive. Representatives of the dissolved parties and human rights organizations condemned the decision, describing it as politically motivated and posing a serious threat to pluralism and the democratic process. They emphasize that this is part of a broader strategy by the junta aimed at eliminating opposition ahead of any future elections. Criticism also comes from regional organizations. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which imposed sanctions on Guinea after the coup, expressed concern over this decision, seeing it as a step backward on the path to restoring constitutional order. „C'est une dictature. Ils veulent éliminer tous les opposants politiques avant les élections.” (It's a dictatorship. They want to eliminate all political opponents before the elections.) — Omar Sylla The situation in Guinea has remained tense since the junta seized power. The transition period, initially set to last six months, has been significantly extended, and deadlines for a return to civilian rule have been repeatedly postponed. The decision to dissolve the parties has heightened fears of further restrictions on civil liberties and political freedoms. Observers point to a deteriorating human rights situation, including crackdowns on protesters and restrictions on media freedom. This step poses another challenge for the international community engaged in mediation and supporting the democratic process in this African country.