Violent demonstrations have broken out in the Guinean capital Conakry in recent days following the arrest of three members of the FNDC (Front National de Défense de la Constitution). The population denounces the excessive use of force.
Over the past three days in Conakry, security forces and demonstrators have clashed after the brutal arrest of three opposition leaders. The demonstrators burned tyres, set up barricades, knocked over bins and stoned the police, who tried to disperse them with tear gas.
According to the statement of the Minister of Security published on Wednesday, the clashes have left as after-effects, “serious disturbances to public order” that have injured many people, including 17 police officers, as well as material damage: vehicles of the forces of law and order have been damaged by protesters. “Since Tuesday evening, young people have been demonstrating in some parts of the upper suburbs of Conakry to denounce the arrest of the coordinator of the FNDC, Oumar Sylla alias Foniké Menguè, and two of his mates, namely Billo Bah and the rapper Djanii Alfa”, reports the local newspaper Lekaloum.
The demonstrators denounce the excessive use of force. According to AFP, the national coordinator of the FNDC, Oumar Sylla – known as Foniké Mengué -, Mamadou Billo Bah and the rapper Alpha Midiaou Bah – alias Djanii Alfa – were violently arrested on Tuesday by the police at the headquarters of their coalition, while giving a press conference. MM. Sylla and Bah were beaten and their clothes torn by police officers.
The defendants are charged with “contempt of court”, “disrespect for justice” and “public insults”. According to the prosecutor of the Conakry Court of Appeal, Alphonse Richard Wright, Messrs. Sylla and Bah are being prosecuted for having “produced and disseminated through a computer system insulting remarks against the National Transitional Council (CNT)”, the transitional parliament set up by the junta.
Moreover, after the last meeting between members of the transition and the FNDC last month, the latter denounced “a parody of a meeting”, and “a solitary and authoritarian conduct of the transition” as well as “serious violations of fundamental rights and freedoms”.
It should also be noted that these demonstrations, which began on Tuesday evening, are among the first since Mamady Doumbouya’s team came to power. They come against a background of growing discontent and the detention of several former officials by a special anti-corruption court. The three FNDC members have been in police custody since Tuesday and will be tried today.
