The military rulers in Guinea are cracking down on dissent, torturing political opponents, and failing to meet their promise of restoring civilian rule by December 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a damning report published Monday.
The report, based on interviews with abuse victims and nearly 60 organizations, accuses the junta of silencing critics, shuttering independent media, and violently suppressing protests. HRW highlights that junta leader Mamady Doumbouya has continued the oppressive tactics of his predecessor, Alpha Condé, whom he ousted in a September 2021 coup.
Security forces have used excessive force to quell demonstrations, resulting in the deaths of at least 59 people, including five children, since June 2022, according to local civil rights groups.
Two political activists, Fonike Mengue and Mamadou Billo Bah, have reportedly disappeared and allegedly tortured, further intensifying fears of junta-led repression.
The junta’s promise to return Guinea to civilian governance by late 2024 remains unfulfilled, raising doubts about its commitment to democratic restoration.
HRW’s findings paint a grim picture of Guinea’s human rights landscape, showing the urgent need for international pressure to halt abuses and ensure a genuine transition to civilian rule.
