Guinea’s ruling military government has suspended three of the country’s main opposition parties, intensifying political tensions just weeks before a contentious constitutional referendum.
According to an order obtained by AFP on Saturday, the suspended parties include the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) of ousted former president Alpha Condé, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) led by ex-prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress (PRP). The ban, which will last for three months, bars them from all political activities.
The junta claimed the parties had “failed to meet their obligations,” though no further details were given.
The move comes as opposition coalitions and civil society groups prepare for nationwide protests on September 5 against what they describe as an attempt by junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya to cling to power. Doumbouya seized control in a September 2021 coup that ended Condé’s decade-long presidency.
A national referendum on a new constitution is scheduled for September 21. On Friday, the junta announced that the official campaign period had been pushed back by one week, now set to begin August 31.
While the draft constitution submitted to Doumbouya in June promises a transition to civilian rule, it does not clarify whether the junta leader himself could contest future presidential elections. Opposition groups argue that the uncertainty is deliberate and designed to open the door for Doumbouya to extend his rule.
The junta’s original transition charter, introduced shortly after the coup, barred members of the military government from running for office. Critics fear that adopting a new constitution could remove this safeguard.
Since taking power, Doumbouya’s government has outlawed street protests, jailed or prosecuted opposition figures, and forced others into exile. Rights advocates say these measures have fostered a climate of repression and fear.
Analysts warn that the suspension of the three largest opposition parties is a clear attempt to weaken organized resistance before the referendum. Civil society groups caution that escalating tensions risk sparking unrest in a country long marred by political violence and authoritarian rule.
