Opposition Leader Urges ‘Direct Resistance’ Following Dissolution in Guinea Forty Political Parties
Guinea’s opposition has issued a warning of “direct resistance” following the government’s decision to dissolve 40 political parties in the lead-up to crucial elections.
Cellou Dalein Diallo, the main opposition leader in Guinea, has stated that “direct resistance” against the military ruler-turned-president is now the sole avenue for achieving political change, following the dissolution of 40 political parties nationwide by the authorities.
The comprehensive decision, revealed late Friday by Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, mandated the closure of the headquarters and local offices of the impacted parties. The use of their logos, acronyms, and other identifying symbols was also prohibited, alongside the confiscation of party assets and the sealing of their offices.
Officials announced that the parties were disbanded due to noncompliance with legal obligations, which included the submission of required financial statements. Nonetheless, various targeted groups have dismissed the allegations, asserting that they have met all legal obligations, as reported by Reuters.
The decision follows the swearing-in of former junta leader Mamady Doumbouya as president, which took place just two months ago after a contentious election that excluded several significant challengers from participation.
In 2021, Doumbouya took control by overthrowing the then-president, Alpha Condé, in a military coup. Since that time, critics have progressively charged his administration with constricting political space and eroding democratic freedoms in the West African nation.
The dissolved parties included the Rally of the People of Guinea, established by former president Condé, as well as Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea. In a video message shared on social media on Sunday, Diallo, currently living in exile, provided his response.
“The decree indicates that a war has been explicitly declared against those who oppose President Doumbouya,” he stated, contending that political change will no longer arise from dialogue or democratic means.
“The leader of the junta and his sinister group aim to alter the nation’s history by eliminating from the political arena any forces that could overshadow his emerging one-party state,” Diallo added.
Additional opposition figures also criticized the decision. Jean‑Marc Telliano, a former minister and leader of the Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea, announced that his party intends to contest the decision via legal avenues.
“We will vigorously defend our rights and employ every legal avenue available to ensure their restoration,” he stated to Reuters.
The disbandment of the parties occurs merely two months prior to the anticipated legislative elections in Guinea—considered a vital phase in the nation’s pledged shift from military governance to civilian leadership.
