Anti-Junta Protests Expected in Guinea
Widespread anti-junta protests are expected across Guinea today.
On May 13, the ruling National Committee of Reconciliation and Development (CNRD) banned all street protests in the country. In response, the opposition bloc National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), organized peaceful protests against the junta for violating citizens’ rights and freedoms, namely the right to protest.
The first round of demonstrations occurred in the capital city Conakry last week, leaving at least four people dead and several others wounded. In anticipation of today’s second round, Guinean authorities will likely deploy larger numbers of security personnel throughout the country. If demonstrators are resistant to police instruction, expect more violence to break out between the groups, especially if the junta keeps up the ban on public protest.
In the long term, civilian protests are unlikely to result in an immediate political transition. That said, the regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States, announced last week that after months of resistance, the junta accepted a proposal to cut its transition to civilian rule timeline from three years to two. Expect the junta to abide by this proposal to avoid further ECOWAS sanctions.
