Conakry – Aliou Bah, leader of Guinea’s Liberal Democratic Movement (MoDel), has been sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting and defaming” junta leader Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya. Bah was arrested in late December 2024 while traveling to neighboring Sierra Leone.
The sentencing on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, occurred amid heightened tensions in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, where civil society and opposition groups have been protesting the junta’s failure to meet a December 31, 2024, deadline for initiating a return to democratic governance. The ruling junta, led by Col. Doumbouya since a 2021 coup, had previously agreed to commence a democratic transition by this date but has since missed the deadline.
In his New Year’s address, Col. Doumbouya announced plans for a constitutional referendum to begin the democratic process but did not provide a specific timeline, leading to criticism from activists and opposition groups who view the move as a tactic to prolong military rule.
The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over Guinea’s failure to meet the January 1, 2025, target date for launching its democratic transition. It has called on the Guinean government to undertake a transparent and inclusive process that engages all citizens, emphasizing the need for clear timelines for the constitutional referendum and subsequent elections.
The situation has been further complicated by the junta’s dissolution of over 50 political parties and increased control over independent media, raising doubts about the credibility of any forthcoming elections.
Bah’s lawyer, Antoine Pépé Lama, condemned the court’s decision, stating, “It’s a sad day for freedom of expression and a blow to Guinean democracy.”
The Forces Vives de Guinée coalition has accused the junta of holding the nation “hostage” and has called for stay-at-home protests. Reports indicate that one man was fatally shot and numerous young people were arrested during the latest demonstrations on Monday, January 1.
