Guinea opposition, civil society groups push junta gov’t for swift return to democratic path

Guinea’s opposition and civil society groups, united under the Forces Vives platform, have announced that they will no longer recognize the authority of the country’s military junta after 31 December, when a promised return to constitutional rule was meant to take place.
While this deadline as the transition period was initially agreed with the West African regional bloc ECOWAS following the 2021 coup, Chad’s transitional government has, however, since announced a delay, citing the need for a “re-foundation of the state.” In a statement, Forces Vives has called for the establishment of a civilian-led transition, accusing the current authorities of failing to deliver on their promises. Abdoul Sacko, coordinator of the Forum of Social Forces of Guinea, one of the signatory organizations, expressed frustration at the lack of progress, stating that “there is no relevant, visible or perfectible approach to a return to constitutional order.”
“The Guinean junta’s growing repression and intolerance for dissent risk derailing the promised transition back to civilian government while deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis,” said an analysis titled ‘A Stagnant Transition in Guinea’ that was published by Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The Forces Vives’ rejection of the transition extension is widely seen as signaling a new phase in Guinea’s political crisis when the opposition and civil society may escalate their efforts to demand the military junta to adhere to the original timeline and a swift return to constitutional order. The announcement comes amid growing pressure from the ECOWAS on military-led governments in West Africa to honor their commitments to restore democracy.