The Rapporteur on the Republic of Guinea (Country Rapporteur), Honourable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, and the Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Police Action in Africa, Honourable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Commission) are deeply concerned about the disturbing human rights situation in the Republic of Guinea.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, through its Rapporteurs, notes with sadness that for several months, Guinea has been facing several challenges, particularly those related to the guarantee of human rights on its territory. It notes bitterly that these challenges continually lead to violations of human rights, in particular violations of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as the right to life and physical integrity. Reports indicate that not only are political opposition and civil society demonstrations increasingly suppressed, but they are also the scene of excessive use of force by security forces, resulting in a multitude of arrests, injuries and several deaths. Even more recent news indicates that the government has decided to dissolve the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, a citizen's movement, which was formed in April 2019.
The African Commission disapproves of the perpetration of such acts and wishes to remind the authorities of the Republic of Guinea that such acts are incompatible with its obligations to protect under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter), in particular Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 and 11, as well as under all international and regional human rights instruments to which Guinea is a party.
Furthermore, the African Commission reminds the Republic of Guinea that the guaranteed rights, which constitute obligations towards the State Party, and which are contained in the African Charter, are recognized to all and are inviolable without any distinction, in particular political opinion.
Consequently, in view of these acts of violation of the rights guaranteed by the African Charter, the African Commission: i. calls on the Guinean authorities to take the necessary measures to guarantee freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, the right to life and the physical integrity of all persons on its territory; ii. calls on the state party to adopt the strategies necessary to restore peace and security;
iii. calls on the state authorities to investigate so that the perpetrators of these acts can be subjected to the sanctions in force; iv. calls on all stakeholders to engage in a process of peace, social cohesion and the fight against violence.
Done at Banjul, 25 August 2022
For the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Honorable Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Country Rapporteur for the Republic of Guinea
Honorable Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela, Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Police Action in Africa
