Amnesty International’s recent report sheds light on the dire consequences of the Guinea junta’s crackdown on dissent, revealing that at least 47 individuals, predominantly youth, have lost their lives since the military assumed control in September 2021.
The junta’s sweeping ban on demonstrations in 2022, coupled with the arrest of opposition figures, civil society members, and journalists, has plunged the nation into a state of repression.
The report underscores that a staggering 75 percent of those killed were under 25 years old, with 40 percent being minors under 18. Even prior to the junta’s ascendancy, between 2019 and 2021, 66 lives were claimed during protests against former President Alpha Conde’s bid for a controversial third term.
Despite assurances from the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya following Conde’s ousting, the situation has only deteriorated. Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, lamented the persistence of excessive force and repression under the CNRD’s governance.
In addition to stifling dissent, the junta has curtailed internet access, removed television channels from basic packages, and disrupted radio frequencies. Despite documented instances of unlawful force, convictions of security personnel have been scarce since 2019. Moreover, both public and private healthcare facilities have shied away from treating victims, fearing retaliation.
The gravity of the situation was further underscored when Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah announced in March a prolongation of military rule until at least 2025, reneging on promises to restore civilian governance by the end of 2024.
