The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Thursday called on Guinea’s military authorities to immediately lift restrictions on political parties and media outlets ahead of the country’s scheduled elections in December.
Guinea has been under military rule since General Mamady Doumbouya ousted former president Alpha Condé in 2021.
Since then, the junta has imposed sweeping crackdowns — suspending opposition parties and media platforms, banning protests since 2022, and jailing or forcing many political leaders into exile.
“The military authorities in Guinea must first and foremost lift the unacceptable bans on political parties and media outlets,” Türk said in a statement. “It is critical that the transition process towards constitutional rule be inclusive, transparent, and aligned with international human rights standards.”
His remarks came just a day after Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah reaffirmed the junta’s pledge to hold both legislative and presidential polls this year.
On Sunday, Guineans voted in a referendum adopting a new constitution, a move that clears the path for elections but also allows Doumbouya to run for president.
Türk expressed concern over what he described as a broad assault on fundamental freedoms since the coup, citing rising cases of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances.
His office said it was aware of at least 10 missing individuals, including activist Oumar Sylla (known as Fonike Mengue) and journalist Habib Marouane Camara, both of whom disappeared after being detained last year.
The UN rights chief urged the junta to release all those held arbitrarily, investigate disappearances with “independence and impartiality,” and end impunity for rights abuses.
He also criticized the recent pardon of former junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara, who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity linked to the 2009 stadium massacre. “International law prohibits pardons for such serious crimes,” Türk warned.
As Guinea edges closer to its first elections under Doumbouya, international pressure is mounting on the junta to prove its commitment to restoring democratic rule and upholding basic freedoms.
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