Guinea: Oct. 5 general strike called off, protests to continue /update 3

Event

The “ville morte” general strike scheduled to be held in Conakry on Thursday, October 5, has been canceled. Organizers have said that demonstrations will nonetheless go ahead on Thursday, including a march in Conakry. An increased police presence is expected in the vicinity of all protests and associated violence is possible.

Context

The protests are the latest in a series of actions organized to denounce the government's failure to implement reforms laid out in a 2015 political agreement, which promised a revision of the electoral code, an audit of the electoral register, the organization of local elections, and compensation for victims of political violence and their families. Protesters are also calling for security forces to stop using deadly force to disperse demonstrations, as clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police are frequent.

Political protests take place on a regular basis throughout 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, blaming them for the country’s poor economic performance. Demonstrators also regularly protest corruption, the high cost of living, public health issues, and insecurity.

Advice

Individuals in Guinea, particularly in Conakry, are advised to remain vigilant and avoid all protests.