Guinea opposition leader urges ‘direct resistance’ after 40 parties dissolved

Guinea’s main opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo has said that “direct resistance” to the country’s coup leader–turned–president is now the only remaining path to change, after the authorities dissolved 40 political parties. The authorities accused the parties of not complying with the law – a charge they have rejected. The move comes two months after former junta head Mamady Doumbouya was sworn-in as president, following an election that saw some key challengers barred from running.

Doumbouya, who came to power in 2021 after overthrowing Condé, has been accused of cracking down on democratic freedoms. Among the parties dissolved were the the Rally of the People of Guinea of former President Alpha Condé and Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea. Diallo is currently in exile.

The parties’ assets have been confiscated and all offices sealed. The ministry said the parties had failed to comply with legal requirements, including submitting mandatory financial statements. Several of the dissolved groups have rejected the allegations, insisting they met all obligations under the law, the Reuters news agency reported. He said political change would not happen through dialogue or democratic processes.