Guinea: Security Forces Shoot Protestor Dead

A demonstrator in the Guinean capital, Conakry, has been shot dead by the state security forces, as the second day of anti-government protests continue.

The sporadic demonstrations have been fuelled by public anger at President Alpha Condé’s plans to amend the constitution’s two-term presidential limit. 

This would permit the 81-year old to run for re-election for a third time.

The opposition say that three people were killed on Thursday, in addition to the protestor shot on Friday.

That is in contrast to the government’s claims that only one person had died this week.

At least 14 people have been killed since demonstrations began last month.

The international human rights group Amnesty International have said at least 70 protestors and bystanders have been killed in anti-government protests since 2015, and that a further 109 have died whilst detained in custody.

The group decry what they see as “Appalling human rights “red flags” ahead of the presidential election”.

Marie-Evelyne Petrus Barry, the group’s West and Central Africa Director, has called on the government to do more to stop the violence.

She said “To put an end to the cycle of violence in Guinea ahead of the 2020 presidential election, the authorities must send a clear message that human rights violations will not be tolerated”.

Parliamentary elections in Guinea are scheduled to take place on 16th February 2020.