Guinea’s ruling military junta has suspended the activities of three major opposition parties for 90 days, including former president Alpha Condé’s Rally of the Guinean People (RPG).
The move comes ahead of the constitutional referendum scheduled for September 21. Alongside the RPG, the suspended parties include the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), led by former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress.
Authorities justified the decision by citing the parties’ failure to meet “legal requirements and obligations,” effectively preventing them from taking part in the referendum campaign.
At the same time, state television announced a one-week delay to the official launch of the campaign for the draft constitution, now set to begin on August 31.
The suspension also coincided with a ban on a protest the opposition had planned for September 5, aimed at denouncing what it called the “seizure of power” by coup leader General Mamadi Doumbouya.
The draft constitution calls for a return to civilian rule, but does not clarify whether General Doumbouya—who ousted Condé in the 2021 coup—will be allowed to run in upcoming elections, despite the current transitional charter explicitly banning junta leaders and government members from candidacy.
