Guinea: FNDC calls for fresh protests.
By: Baillor Jalloh
Guinea’s National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (Le Front National de la Défense de la Constitution, FNDC) has lifted the one-week suspension of protests which had been implemented in response to calls by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) whilst diplomatic channels were being pursued.
Youths burning tires on the streets of Conakry during a protest
On Monday 8th August, 2022, the FNDC announced it is urging all Guineans in Europe to gather in Belgium’s capital, Brussels on Sunday 14th August, for a peaceful protest to raise awareness of what’s happening in Guinea and to call on the international community to act quickly before it’s too late. The civil society group also added on Wednesday 17th August 2022, all Guineans should go out on the streets to denounce the junta and ask for a quick transition to civilian rule. Monday’s announcement came just days after the group held a virtual press conference where its strategic leader, Sekou Koundouno called on all Guineans to be prepared for fresh protests in the coming days. Mr Koundouno said the agreement between the FNDC and ECOWAS to suspend all protests had expired. He stated the organisation would contact the ECOWAS Chair, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau to inform him of their intention to return to the streets, as the junta has failed to meet the demands of the FNDC and ECOWAS.
Meanwhile on Friday 5th August, after a weekly parliamentary session, Osman Goual Diallo, the Minister of Housing and military junta spokesperson went on national television to restate that Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya and his transition government “would not be bullied by any organisation and that Guinea is a sovereign nation.” He added that the junta will do what it needs to do to sort out the country’s problems and will not be “dictated to.”
The comments followed Umaro Sissoco Embaló who announced that he had managed to persuade Guinea’s strongman, Doumbouya to reduce the transition period to “last 24 months” and not 36 as outlined by the junta. Embaló was speaking at a press conference with French President Emanuel Macron who was visiting Bissau last week. According to President Embaló, the agreement was reached during his visit to Conakry in July with Benin’s former president and current ECOWAS negotiator, Thomas Boni Yayi. It was expected that Colonel Doumbouya would announce their agreement when President Embaló leaves Conakry, but the ECOWAS chairman said that didn’t happen.
President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya (Credit: Government of Guinea Bissau)
However, the junta was quick to deny any such conversation took place between the two heads of states. This all came amid violence demonstrations organised by the FNDC in the capital Conakry, on Thursday 28th and Friday 29th July in which five people were killed by security forces and dozens arrested in a Conakry suburb (Commune de Ratoma), including FNDC leaders Oumar Sylla AKA Foniké Menguè, Ibrahim Bah and Saikou Yaya Barry from the Union of Republican Forces (UFR) party.
Youths burning tires on the streets of Conakry during a protest
The killings of unarmed civilians and the arrests of dozens of young people were condemned by many political parties and civil societies in Guinea as well as the G5 countries, ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union and Amnesty International. The international community has called on the junta to release all political detainees and start a peaceful and inclusive dialogue. But it seems, the international community’s demand has fell on deaf ears, as on Monday, 4th August, the leaders of the FNDC and Mr Barry were transferred to Conakry’s high security prison, Maison Centrale. The trio were charged for causing public disorder, destruction of properties and organising what the junta described as illegal protest. Former prosecutor general, Alphonso Charles Wright, now Security Minister said, all those who were involved in organising the protest will be arrested, tried in court, and sentenced according to their crimes.
But the FNDC has said the killing of peaceful protesters and the arrests of its members by the junta are forms of tactics to intimidate and scare people from coming out in future protest.
Military officers patrolling the streets of Conakry
Meanwhile, since last week’s protests, there are tensions in opposition strong holds as the junta is accused of sending military men on the streets and raiding people from their houses and taking them into military barracks to torture them. The junta has denied these allegations and has said the military are on the street to maintain law and order and protect citizens and their properties.
