Guinea’s political landscape is heating up as major opposition parties and civil society groups joined forces to demand a return to civilian rule by December 31st, 2024.
This comes in defiance of recent suggestions by the military junta, currently in power after a 2021 coup, that elections might be delayed until 2025.
The pressure on the military stems from a previous agreement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reached in October 2022. ECOWAS had pressured the junta to hold elections by the end of 2024.
However, the Guinean Prime Minister’s recent remarks sparked outrage.
A collective known as the Forces Vives de Guinee released a scathing statement condemning the junta’s decision.
They pointed out the lack of progress towards a return to democracy, highlighting the absence of a draft constitution, electoral code, election management body, and even a voter registry.
Beyond the lack of progress, the statement accuses the junta of stifling public freedoms and harassing political leaders.
The Forces Vives de Guinee declared they would no longer recognize the military’s authority after the December 31st deadline and demanded a swift restoration of public freedoms and a return to constitutional order.
Their demands extend beyond simply holding elections by year-end.
They advocate for the establishment of an independent and impartial electoral body, a revised electoral code, and even a review of the 2010 constitution followed by a national referendum.
With the opposition united and a deadline set, Guinea’s political future hangs in the balance.
Whether the junta yields to these demands or digs in its heels remains to be seen.
