Guinea Junta dissolves political parties

Guinea’s authorities have dissolved dozens of political parties and placed two major opposition groups under observation, while the transitional government has yet to set a date for upcoming elections.

Since the military ousted President Alpha Condé in 2021, the West African nation has been governed by a military regime. The regional bloc ECOWAS has been advocating for a return to civilian governance, with elections anticipated in 2025.

The recent decision to dissolve 53 political parties and monitor 54 others for three months is unprecedented in Guinea, which held its first democratic election in 2010 following years of authoritarian rule. The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization based its actions on a review of all political parties initiated in June, aimed at “cleaning up the political landscape.”

The 67 parties under observation can continue their activities but must address identified irregularities. Among these are the Rally of the Guinean People, associated with former President Condé, and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea.

The authorities cited issues such as failure to hold party congresses on time and lack of financial transparency as reasons for the observation status.

Guinea joins a growing list of West African nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where military regimes have taken control and postponed civilian governance. Earlier this year, Burkina Faso’s junta extended its transition period by five years.

Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, who leads Guinea, stated that he intervened to prevent chaos and criticized the previous administration for failing to fulfill its promises. However, he has faced criticism for not significantly improving the situation since taking power.

In February, Doumbouya unexpectedly dissolved the government, announcing that a new one would be formed without further details.