Guinea: Blackout protests in Conakry December 19-20

Event

Protests took place in the capital city of Conakry on Tuesday, December 19, and Wednesday, December 20, over frequent electricity cuts. The demonstrations were held in the Dixinn area of the city, where demonstrators burned tires and erected roadblocks. Security forces dispersed the crowd using tear gas. Further blackouts are expected in the coming days, as well as additional associated protests.

Context

Blackout-related protests are relatively common in Guinea. Civil society protest groups, mainly organized by the political opposition, denounce what they claim is a failure of governance by President Alpha Condé and his party, accusing the administration of failing to address the country's poor economic performance. Demonstrators also regularly protest corruption, the high cost of living, public health issues, and insecurity. Clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police often break out.

Advice

Individuals in Conakry are advised to anticipate frequent blackouts in the coming weeks and to keep battery-operated devices fully charged whenever possible. In addition, individuals are advised to be cautious when driving or crossing streets if traffic signals are not functioning. Furthermore, individuals are advised to avoid all demonstrations, to follow all instructions issued by authorities, and to anticipate travel disruptions in affected areas.