Three main opposition parties suspended

Guinea's military rulers have suspended the country’s three main opposition parties, including that of former President Alpha Conde, in the run-up to a constitutional referendum next month, reports Al Jazeera. The order prevents Conde’s Rally of the Guinean People, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress from engaging in any political activities for 90 days with immediate effect. ‘These parties have not fulfilled the obligations required of them,’ the order stated. In a separate order read on state television, Guinea’s military rulers also declared that the start of the election campaign period for a revised Constitution had been pushed back a week, to 31 August. Since Friday, parties have been allowed to advertise their proposals for a new version of the Constitution. The referendum is scheduled for 21 September. The suspension comes as the West African nation’s main parties and civil society groups prepared to hold demonstrations from 5 September to condemn what they see as a power grab by military leader General Mamady Doumbouya. The country’s opposition has come out against the referendum on a new Constitution organised by Doumbouya, who took power in September 2021 when a coup toppled Conde, who had been President for 10 years. Doumbouya’s military-run government has banned all demonstrations since 2022, and it has arrested, prosecuted or pushed into exile several opposition leaders.

Full Al Jazeera report