Protesters hurled stones and burned handmade barricades in Conakry, Guinea’s city, on Wednesday before riot police opened fire with tear gas.
This is the latest in a string of protests since the government was toppled in 2021 and replaced by military leaders who have been hesitant to fulfill commitments to relinquish authority to residents.
A group of opposition parties, civil society organizations, and activists organized demonstrations in Conakry and other towns throughout Guinea on Wednesday and Thursday.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, they encouraged the public to “let no one shrink from intimidation and repression.” Say it with me: “We will liberate our country and prevent any attempt to confiscate our democracy and fundamental freedoms.”
Last October, the Economic Community of West African States rejected a three-year timeline proposed by Guinea’s military leadership and instead argued for a two-year transition to elections.
Some folks are still skeptical. Small groups struggled with police in riot gear and armored vehicles in one section of Conakry on Wednesday, filling the air with black smoke from burning tires.
Stone-throwing protesters in other parts of the city were confronted by white clouds of tear gas.
Because the disruption was distributed throughout various opposition strongholds, determining its exact extent was challenging. Residents said over the phone that there were also small-scale demonstrations in Dabola, the center city, and Nzerekore, the southern town.
If this trend continues, it does not bode well. Protests annoy me. We like peace and quiet. Conakry resident Alassane Diallo described the demonstrations as tiresome.
There were no immediate injuries recorded. Previous protests have resulted in deaths. According to the event organizers, some demonstrators were shot and died during anti-government demonstrations this year and in 2022.
