The 2019–2020 Guinean protests, or the (FNDC), were a series of violent protests and mass civil unrest around

Guinea Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...

against the rule of

Alpha Conde Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , whic ...

that first broke out on 14 October 2019 against constitutional changes. More than 800 were killed in violent clashes and political scenes yet ethnic clashes and this spawned even further rhetoric, while the protesters still resisted despite the harsh repression. After the

2020 Guinean presidential election Presidential elections were held in Guinea on 18 October 2020. Incumbent president Alpha Condé was running for a third term. He was challenged by former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, as well as several other candidates. Background The ...

, widespread unrest took place, leading to the deaths of 27 protesters.

Background

In Guinea, political dissent has been silenced since the

2007 Guinean general strike The 2007 Guinean general strike began on January 10, 2007. Guinea's trade unions and opposition parties called on President Lansana Conté to resign, accusing him of mismanaging the economy and abusing his authority. The strikers also accused ...

, when 100 were killed. Hundreds of people have been arrested in separate cases of violence, such as the 2009 Guinea protests, 2013 Guinea clashes and many more. After a wave of unprecedented demonstrations against the results of the

2015 Guinean presidential election Presidential elections were held in Guinea on 11 October 2015. The result was a first-round victory for incumbent President Alpha Condé, who received 58% of the vote. Background In December 2013, the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa that bega ...

, 70 protesters were killed and more than 400 were arrested in six months of protests. In 2019, protesters had had enough with the government and a new bill allowing constitutional referendums and changes, so protesters started to rally.

Slogans

The demonstrators are demanding in the first place the non-candidacy of Alpha Condé for a third term and the non-modification or the new constitution in

. Crazy, Crazy, crazy, ''Go Away, Alpha Conde'', No New Constitution Until You're Gone! is popular slogans during the popular movement and widespread demonstrations.

Protests leading up to Constitutional Referendum

Protests against the referendum in the buildup to polling day led to the deaths of over 32 people between October 2019 to March 2020, with regular protests taking place in Conakry and other cities including Labé, Mamou, Boké or Nzérékoré. During the protests, several government offices, schools and police stations were attacked with the aim of destroying voting materials. Some of the scenes that took place during that period included attackers entering a police station in

Mamou Mamou (Pular: 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤥𞤵𞤲) is a city and sub-prefecture in a valley of the Fouta Djallon area of Guinea. Population 376,269 (2018 est),and the city is almost 98% Fulani tribe. Labé Labé ( Pular 𞤆𞤵𞤤𞤢𞤪:𞤂𞤢𞤦𞤫) is the main city and administrative capital of the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea. It has a population of about 200,000. It is the second largest city in the country after the capital Conakry ...

, tyres were burnt in the streets and road barricades set up. On September 18, 2021, four figures from the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) returned to Guinea. These fierce opponents of constitutional reform and Alpha Condé's candidacy for a third term had fled abroad. Almost two weeks after the coup, Ibrahima Diallo, Sékou Koundouno, rapper Djani Alfa and blogger Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté were greeted as heroes by a huge crowd in Conakry.

Protests

Between 14 and 15 October, a wave of protests struck

Conakry Conakry (; ; sus, Kɔnakiri; N’ko: ߞߐߣߊߞߙߌ߫, Fula: ''Konaakiri'' 𞤑𞤮𞤲𞤢𞥄𞤳𞤭𞤪𞤭) is the capital and largest city of Guinea. A port city, it serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea. Its p ...

after president

changed the constitution. Five were killed in various protests. The protests spread like wildfire to nearly a dozen cities by 16 October. Mass political unrest spiralled out of control when abuses against the Folani tribe took place. Thousands of protesters threw stones at police and three were killed between 18 and 19 October. The unrest spread to Nzerekore, the country's third-largest city. Police fired live ammunition to disperse protesters. Anti-government chants demanded an end to the government. Tanks and soldiers stormed cities as nationwide strikes erupted. Between 20 and 28 October, various acts of

civil disobedience Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders or commands of a government (or any other authority). By some definitions, civil disobedience has to be nonviolent to be called "civil". Hen ...

took place and hundreds sang and chanted slogans against president

. Violence by police against tribes went on for four days. Anti-military protests and pro-democracy protests rose after the street protests erupted. Between 14 and 17 November, a wave of protests struck major cities nationwide. At least 100 were killed in the unrest after mid-October. Thousands rallied 19–24 November, demanding an end to corruption, shortages and poverty. Riots intimidated international donors and the media drew attention to the protests. Acts of violence rampaged through cities and poor suburbs in towns across

as anti-government rallies spiraled out of control. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters and workers took to the streets, demanding better wages and pay-checks to resume. Economic turmoil and political crisis were among of the causes of the civil unrest. A conflict between protesters and the police occurred when blockades were broken down by the army, and security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least seven in December alone. Mass rallies occurred in Guinea on 16–17 January. Two were killed in the ensuing crackdown. On 30–31 January, mass protests killed four when thousands threw stones and chanted anti-government slogans against the prime minister. Police brutality complaints were filed in court. The

2020 Guinean constitutional referendum A constitutional referendum was held in Guinea on 22 March 2020, alongside parliamentary elections. The new constitution would reset presidential term limits (normally two terms), allowing president Alpha Condé to be elected for a third term, a ...

was met with five days of unprecedented demonstrations and intense clashes with the military, who fired live ammunition and killed at least thirteen. After the results were pulled out, opposition protesters took to the streets to demand an end to corruption scandals and the government and the resignation of president

. Between April–July 2020, strikes for better electricity gripped areas across the country, killing seven as electric supplies were cut off. After a nationwide lockdown banned protest actions and gatherings, hundreds defied the ban and took to the streets as a continuation of the protest movement. One person was injured as teargas was used to disperse protesters. Riot police stormed compounds and neighbourhoods on 20–31 July. After a break, nationwide rallies led by the opposition took place. Ten were killed in the pre-election protests demanding that president

should resign and not run for a third term in office in the

. A series of nationwide anti-government strikes intensified after the announcement of the results of the

. Protesters threw stones and pelted eggs, demanding democratic reforms and justice for those who had died due to political unrest, free elections and a new government led by the opposition. Four were killed by violence from military forces against strikers and protesters. After a week-long series of protests, protesters were calm after 23 were killed by police forces who attacked protesters and journalists calling on freedom and fair elections.

Gallery

File:Acte 2 FNDC.jpg, 24 October 2019 protests in

File:Tête_d'un_manifestant_du_FNDC.jpg, Protester File:Bus calciné.jpg, Bus looted during rioting File:Manifestants FNDC Mamou.jpg, Tuk-Tuk surrounded by demonstrators File:Manifestant du FNDC en drapeau guinéen.jpg, A protester draped in Guinea flag File:Tête d'un manifestant du FNDC 01.jpg, Manifestations in Nzerekore and protester in Nzerekore File:Drone survolant la manifestant du FNDC a conakry.jpg, Drones used to hover protests

References