2023-05-10 22:02:54
Seven dead in anti-junta protests in Guinea
The Guinean opposition deplored the death of seven people, killed “by bullet”, during demonstrations against the ruling junta on Wednesday.
The Forces vives de Guinée called on May 3 for a resumption of demonstrations with a series of protests in Conakry and around the country starting on Wednesday. (Pretext image)
AFP
Wednesday’s protests in Guinea against the ruling junta killed seven people and injured more than 30 by gunshots, said the opposition group that organized them despite ongoing religious mediation.
Resumption of demonstrations
The Forces vives de Guinée called on May 3 for a resumption of demonstrations with a series of protests in Conakry and around the country starting on Wednesday, in a country where the latter are often deadly.
Mediation
The Forces vives demand the opening of a credible dialogue with a view to a rapid return of civilians to the leadership of the country, the lifting of the ban on all demonstrations introduced by the junta in 2022 and the release of their members imprisoned as well than stopping what they denounce as judicial “harassment” by the authorities.
Among the demands is the release of three civil society figures, Oumar Sylla, alias Foniké Mangué, Ibrahima Diallo and Mamadou Billo Bah. Protests resume as religious leaders attempt to mediate between the collective and the junta that toppled President Alpha Condé in 2021.
The junta said it was ready to release Foniké Mangué, Ibrahima Diallo and Mamadou Billo Bah and to lift the judicial control measures imposed on a number of opponents, the mediation said in a statement. The three men’s lawyers, however, reported that the junta made their release conditional on them abandoning their commitment, which they refused.
“Sincerity”
Guinean Prime Minister Bernard Gomou on Wednesday reaffirmed the junta’s readiness to discuss with the opposition during an international meeting on water in Conakry. “The government strives to respond in accordance with legal procedures to all the demands of political and social movements. But some of them refuse to integrate the framework of inclusive dialogue” advocated by the junta, he declared at the podium.
Bernard Gomou swept aside the accusations of “blocking” aimed at the authorities. “I disagree (against these allegations). The mediators, the religious, can attest to the efforts of our good faith. These calls to demonstrate are truly regrettable and the sponsors are solely responsible for them,” he added.
The military has pledged under international pressure to make way for elected civilians by the end of 2024, the time to carry out deep reforms, they say.
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