Aliou Bah, leader of the Liberal Democratic Movement (MoDel) in Guinea, has been sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting and defaming” General Mamady Doumbouya, head of the ruling junta in Guinea, according to an AFP journalist.
According to information, the charge stemmed from Bah’s public calls for religious leaders to speak out against the junta and his criticism of its “incompetence”.
This verdict is part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures under military rule since the 2021 coup. Bah was arrested in December and his defense team decried the trial as an infringement on freedom of speech.
Meanwhile, the United States has expressed concern that Guinea has not met its January 1, 2025 target date to launch its democratic transition, and called on the Guinean government to undertake a transparent and inclusive process that engages all Guineans.
“Transparency and inclusivity are fundamental to a transition to civilian rule that is credible, legitimate, and sustainable. We urge the transition government to announce and enact clear timelines and concrete steps for the constitutional referendum and democratic elections,” the Spokesperson of the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, Matthew Miller said.
According to Miller, it is vital that all parts of society, including civil society organizations, political parties, media organizations and the broader public, are actively involved in shaping Guinea’s future and allowed to fully participate in the referendum and electoral process. “The United States remains committed to supporting the Guinean people in their pursuit of a stable and democratic future,” he noted.
