The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recently raised alarms over the disappearance of two Guinea activists, following their arrest by the country’s security forces. In a statement released on Friday, the OHCHR expressed deep concern regarding the situation and urged Guinea’s authorities to either formally charge the activists in accordance with established legal procedures or release them. The OHCHR emphasized the necessity for guaranteeing the activists’ right to an adequate legal defense and called for a thorough investigation into the activists’ disappearance and their treatment while in custody.
The activists, Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah, were apprehended in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, on July 9. Reports indicate that the arrests, carried out by armed soldiers, lacked proper legal warrants, and were followed by allegations of torture and inhumane treatment. Sylla and Bah are prominent leaders of the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), a coalition that has been openly critical of the current military regime in Guinea.
According to the FNDC, the arrests happened just days after the organization called for mobilization against deteriorating living conditions and the shutdown of media outlets in the country. This recent event follows numerous incidents of civil unrest in Guinea since the government was overthrown by a military coup in 2021.
The OHCHR’s concern was echoed by Thameen Al-Kheetan, a human rights spokesperson, who noted that the office had received reports suggesting that the activists were subjected to acts of torture and degrading treatment while in detention. The incident joins a pattern of repressive actions by the Guinea government against opposition movements and protestors. For instance, last October, thirteen journalists were arrested during a peaceful demonstration.
The FNDC continues to push for the restoration of civilian rule and the protection of human rights, despite facing significant risks in a politically volatile environment. Amnesty International had earlier reported on the unconstitutional use of force against protesters in Guinea, outlining significant barriers to healthcare and justice faced by victims of protest repression.
The full details of this unfolding situation are accessible via JURIST.