By AFP
Guinea’s military-led government has suspended three major opposition parties, including that of former President Alpha Condé, just weeks before a contentious referendum to rewrite the country’s constitution.
According to an official order seen by AFP on Saturday, the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG), Condé’s party along with the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), led by former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress, have all been barred from political activity for three months.
The move comes amid growing tensions, with opposition parties and civil society groups planning nationwide protests from September 5 to denounce what they describe as an unconstitutional power grab by junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya.
Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup that toppled Condé’s decade-long rule, has scheduled a national referendum for September 21 to adopt a new constitution. Critics say the proposed changes could pave the way for Doumbouya to extend his stay in power -possibly by removing previous restrictions on junta members running for office.
Although the draft constitution has been presented to Doumbouya, it remains unclear whether it would explicitly allow him to contest future elections, raising alarm in a country that has long grappled with authoritarian rule.
The suspension order cited failure by the parties to meet certain legal obligations, though it did not specify what those were. It gave the parties three months to comply or risk further sanctions.
Separately, on Friday night, the junta announced via state television that the start of the official campaign for the referendum had been postponed by one week – now set to begin on August 31.
This latest crackdown follows a similar move earlier this year: in March, 28 political parties were suspended and 27 others dissolved over alleged administrative failures, such as not providing bank account details or holding required party congresses. While Condé’s RPG was among those suspended, it had since been reinstated until now.
Since taking power, Doumbouya’s government has banned all protests (since 2022) and has arrested, prosecuted, or forced into exile a number of opposition leaders. Rights organizations and international observers have repeatedly condemned the junta’s actions, warning that they represent a growing assault on democratic freedoms and political pluralism.
The military government argues it is working to “sanitise” the political landscape ahead of a return to civilian rule. But the lack of clarity around Doumbouya’s intentions, and the suppression of dissent is deepening concerns both domestically and abroad.
The new constitution is expected to form the legal foundation for a post-transition government. However, its adoption may also signal a shift in the rules- one that could allow the junta to entrench its power in a country that has experienced multiple coups and long-standing political instability.
