APA – Conakry (Guinea) – The ‘Forces Vives de Guinee’, a heterogeneous grouping of political and civil society organizations, has announced the resumption of street demonstrations after several months of calm.
September 5, the second anniversary of the arrival in power of the National Rally Committee for Development (CNRD), is likely to be an eventful day.
The reason is the date chosen by the ‘Forces Vives de Guinee’ (FGV) to resume their demonstrations.
This grouping of political parties and civil society organisations has planned a march in Conakry to demand that the transition be rectified with a view to a speedy, consensual and peaceful return to constitutional order in Guinea.
In a press release received by APA, the FGV declare that “after two years in power by the Guinean military junta, the break with the people of Guinea has been completely consummated, given that the commitments solemnly made by the President of the CNRD, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, have been betrayed and the transition has been diverted from its ultimate objectives: to make justice the compass of public action and to speed up the return to constitutional order through the organization of transparent, free and inclusive elections.”
The protesters note that “to date, no action contributing to the return to constitutional order has been taken,” pointing out that “there is as yet no draft constitution, no electoral code, no election management body, no technical operator, no electoral register and no realistic election budget.”
This heterogeneous body adds that the Guinean junta is more concerned with launching and inaugurating projects and cracking down on socio-political players who denounce its excesses than with preparing for the elections.
“At the same time, the political and social climate is deteriorating as a result of the worsening poverty of the population and the unbridled enrichment of the ruling class,” the FGV adds.
Last May, religious leaders mediated between the government and the ‘Forces Vives de la Guinee.” The initiative led to the release of the members and leaders of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), an organisation dissolved by the government.
However, the ‘Forces Vives’ believe that these consultations, which were intended to provide a framework for discussing the modalities for a return to constitutional order, “ended in failure through no fault of their own.” They put the blame on the CNRD, which is multiplying its “delaying tactics.”
In the next few days, the ‘Forces Vives’ will be sending letters of information to the authorities of the communes involved, in accordance with the regulations in force in Guinea.
This call for a march in Conakry comes at a time when, on the same day (5 September 2023), a group of artists is planning a giant concert on the esplanade of Conakry’s ‘Palais du Peuple’ to celebrate Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya’s two years in power.
The transitional authorities have not yet reacted to this call for a march.
Public demonstrations have been banned in Guinea since 13 May 2022.
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