Guinea’s military regime has dissolved 53 political parties and placed 54 others under three-month observation, including major opposition parties, in an unprecedented political crackdown.
The measure affects among others the Rally of the Guinean People and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea following a June assessment aimed at “cleaning up the political scene.”
Observed parties can operate normally but must address noted irregularities, including delayed congresses and missing bank statements. The country has been under military rule since Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Conde in 2021.
Elections are scheduled for 2025, following pressure from ECOWAS for a return to civilian rule. Guinea joins other West African nations where military juntas have delayed democratic transitions.
The country held its first democratic elections in 2010 after decades of authoritarian rule. Doumbouya has rejected Western intervention in African political matters, claiming Africans are tired of external categorizations.
The colonel initially justified the coup as necessary to prevent chaos, though critics argue his leadership hasn’t improved conditions. In February, he unexpectedly dissolved the government without explanation. These developments raise concerns about Guinea’s democratic future and the military’s commitment to civilian rule.
The mass dissolution represents the largest political party purge in Guinea’s history, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.