A woman was fatally shot during violent clashes between police and protesters in Conakry, Guinea, on Wednesday, just before an anti-junta demonstration. The incident occurred as scuffles erupted in the Sonfonia area of the capital. The woman, who was travelling in a taxi, later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby medical clinic.
The shooting occurred on the eve of a planned opposition protest aimed at denouncing the junta’s repression and demanding a return to civilian rule by the end of the year. This protest marks the third anniversary of the military coup that brought the junta to power.
Since the coup led by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who is now a general and president, Guinea’s opposition has faced severe repression. The junta has banned demonstrations, and many opposition leaders have been detained, tried, or forced into exile.
Junta supporters are also expected to organize events to celebrate three years of military rule, heightening concerns of potential violence in Conakry between rival groups of protesters.