Amnesty International has issued a scathing report denouncing the increasing repression of civil liberties and human rights in Guinea, where a transitional military government has held power since a 2021 coup. The organization expressed particular concern over cases of enforced disappearance, intimidation of civil society, and shrinking civic space under the rule of the junta led by General Mamady Doumbouya.
In its latest findings, Amnesty called attention to the alarming pattern of abductions and prolonged detentions without due process, particularly targeting human rights defenders and political activists. The report highlighted the unresolved cases of Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Bah—two prominent members of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC)—who were abducted by security forces in July 2024 after publicly mobilizing protests against the military regime. Their whereabouts remain unknown more than a year later.
Oumar Sylla, FNDC’s national coordinator, had become a vocal opponent of the junta’s delay in returning to civilian rule. His abduction, along with Bah’s, occurred just days after he called for renewed demonstrations demanding a clear electoral roadmap. Despite an announcement earlier this year by the Guinean public prosecutor’s office of an investigation into the disappearances, no official updates or findings have been shared, sparking fears of impunity and a lack of political will to address state-linked abuses.
“Authorities in Guinea are resorting to increasingly coercive tactics to silence dissent and suppress the legitimate demands of citizens calling for democratic governance,” Amnesty said in its statement. “Freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly, and the safety of activists are under constant threat.”
The rights watchdog also pointed to a broader climate of fear, noting a rise in censorship, arrests of journalists, and the targeting of opposition voices. Several media outlets have reported harassment, while civil society groups have struggled to operate amid surveillance and bureaucratic restrictions.
Under mounting domestic and international pressure, Guinea’s transitional authorities announced that a constitutional referendum would be held in September 2025, with general elections scheduled for December. However, human rights organizations remain skeptical about the junta’s commitment to a credible and inclusive political transition.
Since seizing power in September 2021, General Doumbouya has promised to steer the country toward democratic elections but has repeatedly postponed key milestones. Critics argue that the military leadership is using promises of reform to prolong its grip on power.
Amnesty International urged Guinean authorities to immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared activists, halt ongoing abuses, and create conditions for a safe and transparent return to civilian rule.
“The Guinean people have the right to speak out, to organize, and to determine their political future free from fear and repression,” the organization concluded.
