Guinea: Opposition suspends protests January 15

Event

According to a statement from the Front national pour la Défense de la Constitution (FNDC), - the entity leading Guinea's recent opposition protests - all protests are to be suspended as of Wednesday, January 15, until further notice. According to the same statement, the pause in activities will be used for the peaceful burial of the four people that were killed during nationwide protests held between Monday, January 13, and Wednesday, January 15.

Protest movements may resume throughout Guinea over the near term. Violent clashes between protesters and security forces cannot be ruled out.

Context

The FNDC has organized several opposition demonstrations since October 14, some of which have turned violent. Opposition members allege that President Condé, who has been in power since 2010, is positioning himself to change the constitution in order to allow him to run for a third presidential term in late 2020. President Condé publicly called for a constitutional referendum on December 19.

Advice

Individuals in Guinea are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.