In Guinea, the junta suspends the issuing of approvals to NGOs and associations

As an opposition demonstration approaches, coinciding with the third anniversary of the military’s rise to power in Guinea, the junta announced that it would suspend the issuing of licenses to associations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Monday, September 2.

This delivery is suspended for four months due to the “actions to disrupt public order carried out on the ground by several NGOs and community movements”, said the Minister of Territorial Administration, General Ibrahima Kalil Condé, in a decision published on social networks. The renewal of the approvals will be subject to the authorities’ assessment of the action of these associations and NGOs. But the text does not clearly state whether the currently valid approvals remain valid or whether they too are suspended.

This is the latest restriction by the military who overthrew the civilian authorities on September 5, 2021, under the leadership of Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, since inaugurated president and promoted to general.

Disappearance of two opponents

The opposition is calling for demonstrations on Thursday for the return of civilians to power, the restoration of freedoms, an end to repression and the release of two protest leaders, Foniké Menguè and Mamadou Billo Bah, who have been missing since their arrest on July 9. General Doumbouya is currently in China for a summit with dozens of African leaders.

The junta has banned all demonstrations in 2022 and dissolved a civil society group advocating for the return of civilians to power in this poor West African country with a troubled and violent recent history. On May 22, the authorities withdrew their accreditation from four radio stations and two television stations among Guinea’s main private media outlets.

However, the brutal repression of unauthorized protests has caused the deaths of at least 47 people between September 2021 and April 2024, according to Amnesty International. Many opposition leaders have been arrested, brought before judges or forced into exile. The junta had initially committed under international pressure to hand over power to elected civilians by the end of 2024. Before going back on this commitment.