25 Oct 2018 | 11:57 AM UTC
Guinea: Violent protest in Labé (center) October 24 /update 6
Opposition protest in Labé (center) leaves 30 wounded; further protests October 29-30
Event
At least 30 people were injured in clashes between opposition supporters and police in the opposition stronghold of Labé (center) on Wednesday, October 24. The protest erupted following a rally led by opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, who claimed his car was struck by a police bullet the day prior during an opposition protest in the capital Conakry. Protesters erected roadblocks and burned tires on several main roads in Labé to denounce this alleged assassination attempt. Further such protests are possible in the coming days.
On a related note, a ville morte ("dead city") general strike is scheduled to take place in Conakry on Monday, October 29, and protest marches are scheduled to take place in cities across the country on Tuesday, October 30.
A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near protest sites; clashes between security forces and demonstrators cannot be ruled out.
Context
The October 29-30 demonstrations are being organized to protest the government of President Alpha Condé and the fact that officials elected in controversial local elections held February 4 have not yet been sworn in. Associated protests took place October 15-16 and October 23-24 in Conkakry, during which two protesters were killed.
Condé's Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) won the majority of the votes in the February local elections, followed in the vote count by former Prime Minister Diallo's Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) and a second opposition party, the Union of Republican Forces (UFR). Although the RPG dominated nationwide, the party lost control of the municipal government of the capital Conakry, a major blow given that the city is home to almost a quarter of the country's population.
Advice
Individuals in Conakry are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations and protests due to the risk of violence, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.
