Guinea’s ruling junta has suspended three major political parties, including that of former President Alpha Conde, for three months ahead of a referendum on revising the country’s constitution scheduled for September 21.
According to an order seen by AFP on Saturday, the suspended parties include Conde’s Rally of the Guinean People, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea led by former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress.
“These parties have not fulfilled the obligations required of them,” the order stated.
The suspension comes as the main opposition groups and civil society movements had been preparing to stage demonstrations from September 5 to denounce what they describe as a power grab by the head of the junta, General Mamadi Doumbouya.
In a separate order read on state television late Friday, the junta also announced that the start of the election campaign for the constitutional referendum had been shifted from August 24 to August 31.
The country’s opposition has openly rejected the referendum, accusing Doumbouya of using the process to consolidate his rule. Doumbouya seized power in September 2021 after overthrowing Conde, who had governed Guinea for a decade.
Since taking charge, Doumbouya’s military administration has banned all demonstrations, while several opposition leaders have been arrested, prosecuted, or forced into exile.
A draft of the new constitution was submitted to the junta leader in June. While the text outlines a path to civilian rule, it does not clarify whether Doumbouya himself would be eligible to contest in the next presidential election.
Shortly after the coup, a “transition charter” had barred the junta leaders, government officials, and heads of institutions from standing in elections. However, the adoption of a new constitution could remove that restriction, raising concerns in a country with a long history of authoritarian rule.
