A prominent Guinean civil society leader has issued a public appeal to newly elected ECOWAS President Julius Maada Bio, urging him to intervene in the prolonged disappearances of opposition figures in Guinea, which have sparked growing concern over the country’s human rights record.
In an open letter addressed to the Sierra Leonean head of state on Monday, Alseny Farinta Camara, leader of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), called on the regional bloc to address what he described as “arbitrary kidnappings and forced disappearances” allegedly carried out by Guinea’s military authorities.
The letter highlights the cases of Oumar Sylla, widely known as Foniké Menguè, the FNDC coordinator, and Mamadou Billo Bah, head of the movement’s mobilization efforts and coordinator of Tournons La Page Guinée.
Both activists have been missing for nearly a year.
“These two opposition figures were kidnapped by the ruling military authorities while they were participating in a peaceful campaign denouncing the unjustified closure of the media and the high cost of living in Guinea,” Camara wrote.
He further denounced “the contempt and arrogance that characterize our authorities regarding the fate of these citizens,” stating that the silence of the transitional government has plunged families into “permanent and unbearable anguish.”
Camara also accused the leadership of Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in September 2021, of normalizing repression.
“The Government of General Mamadi Doumbouya remains silent, and no investigation has been opened into the arbitrary kidnappings and forced disappearances that have become a method of governance of the military regime,” the letter said.
Appealing directly to Maada Bio following his appointment as ECOWAS chair during the 67th summit in Abuja on Sunday, Camara urged the West African leader to “use his commitment and community leadership to obtain the unconditional release of our compatriots for lasting peace and security in Guinea.”
He also praised Maada Bio’s democratic credentials, saying his leadership “will undoubtedly inspire the youth of our community to take up democratic challenges and the protection of human rights for a better future.”
The appeal comes amid increasing scrutiny of Guinea’s transitional authorities over their handling of civil liberties and political dissent, raising broader concerns about the direction of governance in the country.
About The Author
