Guinea junta suspends ‘unauthorised’ political movements

Guinea’s junta-led government on Thursday demanded the suspension of all political movements it deemed “without authorisation”, as the country’s military leaders hinted at possible elections this year.

In a statement read by a presenter on state television late Thursday, the minister for territorial administration and decentralisation, Ibrahima Kalil Conde, “noted with regret the proliferation of political movements without prior administrative authorisation.”

“Consequently, all these political movements are asked to immediately cease their activities and to submit an application for administrative authorisation to our ministry for their legal existence,” the statement added.

The junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has in recent days hinted at the possibility of elections by the end of the year.

Under international pressure, the military leaders had initially pledged to hold a constitutional referendum and hand power to elected civilians by the end of 2024 — but neither has happened.

Junta chief General Mamady Doumbouya said in a New Year’s speech that 2025 will be “a crucial electoral year to complete the return to constitutional order.”

Government spokesman Ousmane Gaoual Diallo said earlier Thursday that the West African nation could hold elections by the end of 2025, after a constitutional referendum “probably in May”.

Since taking power, the junta has cracked down on dissent, with many opposition leaders detained, brought before the courts or forced into exile.

In October, the junta placed the three main political parties under observation and dissolved 53 others in what it termed a major political “clean up”.

It suspended another 54 for a period of three months.

In Thursday’s statement, Conde said that national and international institutions and partners should “cease all collaboration with the 54 suspended political parties until 31 January 2025.”