Amnesty International indicated that protestors in Guinea who were subjected to unlawful force during demonstrations against constitutional amendments are currently facing significant hurdles in receiving adequate healthcare and justice. The demonstrations in question have occurred under the regime of Guinea’s military junta, known as the Comité National du Rassemblement pour le Développement (CRND).
According to Amnesty International, as of April 22, 2024, a minimum of 47 people have been lethally affected during these demonstrations. The organization further reported that over 75% of these victims were younger than 25 years, with 40% being under the age of 18. Amnesty International has accused defence forces of deliberately leaving victims with serious injuries at the scene without providing any form of assistance.
In addition to the direct violence, the report titled “Wounded Youth: Care and Justice Urgently Needed for the Victims of Unlawful Use of Force in Guinea,” stated that the access to social networks and news websites has been denied or censored in certain cases and signals of several radio stations have been cut off or interrupted, infringing on the right to freedom of expression.
To put things into perspective, the first ban on supporting the demonstrations in Guinea was enforced on September 11, 2021. This was soon followed by a subsequent announcement on May 13, 2022, which banned “all demonstrations on public thoroughfares likely to compromise social tranquility and the proper execution of activities contained in the timetable until electoral campaign periods.”
The shortcomings in healthcare availability and access to justice for the victims of protest repressions underscore the challenges faced by the citizens of Guinea amidst the political turmoil and restrictions on their human rights. Legal professionals, particularly those involved in international human rights law, need to follow these developments closely.