Guinea: The government and opposition parties must resume dialogue and prevent a new cycle of violence

17/04/2015

Press release

en fr

FIDH, its member organisation OGDH [1], and its partners in Guinea (MDT, AVIPA and AVCB) [Equal Rights for All (Mêmes droits pour tous, MDT), Association of Victims, Parents and Friends of September 28, 2009 (Association des victimes, parents et amis du 28 septembre 2009, AVIPA) and Association of Victims of the Boiro camp (Association des victimes du camp Boiro, AVCB)]] are extremely concerned about the deteriorating political situation in the run-up to the elections, as illustrated by the violence which erupted during the protests in Conakry on 13 and 14 April and which left two dead and about forty injured. While welcoming the gestures of détente from both the opposition and the government, our organisations call on them and the police to refrain from any form of violence and to resume dialogue to ensure the elections go ahead on schedule, in accordance with the Constitution and the relevant international norms.

In the wake of the attack on its spokesperson on 4 April in Conakry, the opposition called for a demonstration on 13 April to protest against “growing insecurity” in Guinea. During the demonstration, the police and protestors clashed violently in the neighbourhoods of Bambeto, Cosa and Hamdallaye. One person was shot and killed and several others injured in gunfire, close to the headquarters of the ruling RPG-Rainbow Alliance party.

“It is essential that the authorities shed light on the circumstances which led to such acts of violence. They must also guarantee that non-lethal weapons as well as proportionate force will be deployed, with the force used in this instance appearing to have exceeded the legal guidelines governing the use of firearms,”, stated Drissa Traoré, lawyer and FIDH Vice-president.

Our organisations are concerned at these events in the months running up to elections which are crucial for consolidating the sustainable rule of law. They call on all political stakeholders to return to pursuing dialogue.

“Only by immediately resuming calm and constructive political dialogue will it be possible to organise and hold transparent and inclusive elections which are acceptable to all. Guinea has suffered too much from political violence; we must move on to this new stage and break with the culture of violence,” declared Thierno SOW, OGDH President.

Our organisations support the proposal from the Minister for Human Rights, Mr Gassama Diaby, to put in place an Observatory of Protests involving members of civil society and political parties, and they call on the national authorities and international partners to support this initiative which is directed towards making stakeholders on the ground accountable.

“The safety of Guinean citizens is the responsibility of all political stakeholders, both those who maintain law and order and also those who organise and manage demonstrations. So that such protests may no longer be synonymous with death, injury and violence, those who have played a part in these tragedies must undertake to respect a Charter for Peaceful Protest, which is due to be put forward by the Observatory of Protests, and must accept that this body will monitor how demonstrations unfold,” declared Frédéric Foromo Loua, lawyer and MDT President.

FIDH and its partners in Guinea are conducting legal and advocacy actions against political violence in Guinea. They are supporting victims of the most serious crimes perpetrated during the recent major episodes of political violence: protest repression in 2007; the stadium massacre on 28 September 2009; torture during the electoral campaign in 2010; etc. According to the United Nations, during popular protests in 2013, 33 people were killed and 777 injured among the protestors and police.