Guinea’s ruling junta has ordered a drastic reduction of political parties in the country, marking a major shakeup in the political landscape. Following a 180-page review by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, 53 parties are dissolved, 54 are suspended for three months, and another 67 are required to submit proper documentation within three months or face suspension. This leaves only 37 parties untouched out of the original 211 evaluated, with some parties found to have irregular registrations or fake ministerial signatures.
The ministry claims this move is part of a “necessary clean-up” to ensure the credibility of Guinea’s political parties, some of which date back to the 1990s and lack basic financial transparency, such as bank accounts. Critics, however, view the action as a strategy to suppress opposition and marginalize key political figures, including former President Alpha Condé and other prominent leaders in exile. The Union des Forces Démocratiques de Guinée (UFDG) has expressed conditional support for the evaluation, viewing it as a legitimate exercise if it’s transparent and unbiased.
Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in 2021, has imposed strict restrictions on political gatherings, dissolved organizations advocating civilian rule, and tightened control over private media. The junta has committed to returning the country to civilian rule by the end of 2024, but these recent actions raise concerns about the future of democratic engagement and political freedom in Guinea.
