Guinea dissolves FNDC opposition coalition

Guinea’s junta-appointed government dissolved the country’s leading opposition movement, the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), by decree on Saturday.

The FNDC, an alliance of political parties, unions and civil society groups, led protests against former President Alpha Conde before a coup ousted him last year.

Tensions between the FNDC and the junta have been rising for months, culminating in the coalition’s announcement on Monday that it would hold demonstrations on August 17.

A decree declaring the dissolution of the FNDC and signed by Minister for Territorial Administration Mory Conde was confirmed by AFP on Tuesday.

“The de facto group called the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution will be dissolved… effective from the date of signature,” the ruling said.

Rumors of the decree had been circulating on social media late Monday.

The decree states that the FNDC’s “operations are based on violent attacks (perpetrated) during prohibited demonstrations, attacks on people who do not share their ideology and targeted attacks on the security forces”.

The organization has “the behavior of combat groups and private militias … that threaten national unity, public peace and coexistence,” it said.

Rich in minerals but deeply poor, the West African nation has had little stability since gaining independence from France in 1958.

In 2010, Conde, now 84, became the country’s first democratically elected president.

However, his popularity waned during his second term as critics accused him of authoritarianism and opposition protests were violently repressed.

Dozens died, the overwhelming majority of them civilians, in protests launched by the FNDC.

On September 5, as anger mounted over Conde’s successful bid for a third term – a move he defended on the grounds of amending the constitution – mutinous troops rebelled.

Junta strongman Mamady Doumbouya has promised to return power to elected civilians within three years.

The schedule has put the junta at odds with the region’s bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

ECOWAS chair, President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo said late last month he had persuaded the junta to shorten the transition to two years. But the number has not been confirmed by Guinea.

Demonstrations erupted in Guinea on July 28 and 29 over perceptions that the junta was reluctant to restore civilian rule, leaving five dead.

The FNDC on Monday called for nationwide protests on August 17 to condemn the lack of “credible dialogue” and the use of deadly weapons against protesters. The organization is also calling for the release of detained supporters.

The coalition’s communications officer, Abdoulaye Oumou Sow, refused to comment on the dissolution decision on Tuesday.

But the Guinean Organization for the Defense of Human Rights (OGDH) separately warned that “the confiscation of civil liberties or the silence of all dissenting voices will only complicate the situation”.

It said it was “very concerned… at the turn of events”.

Two FNDC leaders, Oumar Sylla and Ibrahima Diallo, were detained after the July demonstrations.

They are charged with attending an illegal assembly, destroying property and causing bodily harm.

The organization suspended its activities for a week, including a demonstration scheduled for August 4, in response to an August 1 call for calm issued by ECOWAS.