ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa expresses its deep concern following the government ban on 40 political parties in Guinea, in clear violation of the right to political participation and freedom of association. We call on the government to annul this measure and create the necessary conditions for the expression of all opinions in the political sphere, for the opposition to function without undue political or administrative interference, to foster trust among political leaders, and to promote the political and social dialogue necessary for democracy and peace, as required by the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which Guinea has ratified.
On the night of 6-7 March, Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MATD) ordered that 40 political parties be dissolved, including three of the main opposition groups: the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), the Party of Renewal and Progress (PRP), and the Union of Republican Forces (UFR). The public order, which ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa has reviewed, bans any political activity by these parties, seals their headquarters, and places their assets under sequestration.
‘Dissolving 40 political parties including the main opposition party with the stroke of a ministerial order, and without any judicial process, is a clear violation of freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to participate in public affairs. Such a blanket prohibition is incompatible with the Constitution of Guinea and international treaties and conventions to which Guinea is a party,’ said Alfred Nkuru Bulakali, Regional Director, ARTICLE 19 Senegal and West Africa
According to the ministry’s public announcement, the dissolved parties are accused of ‘failures to comply with their legal obligations’. The dissolution comes two months before legislative elections, which the government has announced will take place on 24 May, and three months after the 21 September 2025 presidential election and constitutional referendum, which authorities promised would mark a return to constitutional order and political plurality after more than three years of military transition. The measure significantly worsens the already concerning closure of civic and political space in Guinea. It not only impacts the rights of the political parties affected by the measures but the rights of all citizens of Guinea, who are deprived of a real choice in determining the political direction of the country and denied their right to participate effectively in public life.
A move incompatible with the Constitution of Guinea and international standards
The indiscriminate ban constitutes a serious attack on the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, as well as the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs – all rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Guinea (Articles 13, 19, and 35), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), particularly Articles 9,10,11 and 13, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), in particular Articles 19, 21, 23, and 25.
Under the ICCPR and the ACHPR, governments must avoid unjustified interference in associations, including political parties. Courts are allowed to order dissolutions on a case-by-case basis, and only as a last resort, providing written, precise, and appealable reasons.
When it comes to the right to freedom of expression in particular, Article 19 of the ICCPR clearly requires that any restriction must comply with the three-part test: legality, legitimacy, and necessity/proportionality.
The government should outline to each affected party to what extent it meets these requirements as well as all other requirements allowing for the restriction of the rights to freedom of assembly, association, or the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs, to vote and to be elected.
The dissolution of the parties lacks a legal basis consistent with international law. For example, the law allows for dissolution in cases of ‘activities contrary to national unity and public order’. This is vague and overbroad language that allows for arbitrary application. Further, the government has not provided any evidence as to how this extreme measure pursues a legitimate or necessary aim, or how it is proportionate.
ARTICLE 19 calls on the Guinean authorities to:
- Immediately annul the dissolution order.
- Restore the full legal rights of the parties and lift the seal on their headquarters and on the sequestration of their assets.
- Going forward, guarantee that any parties impacted by government measures have access to effective, independent, and impartial judicial remedies.
- Comply with all legal obligations under the constitution, as well as international law relating to political pluralism, including the right to freedom of expression, freedom of association or the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs. This includes recognising and fostering the important role diverse political parties, including opposition parties, play.
- Create the conditions for political and social dialogue based on trust and respect for human rights..
Background
Civic and political space in Guinea has experienced a rapid and concerning deterioration over recent years. ARTICLE 19 has previously documented repressive measures targeting political parties and the media, including mass suspensions of parties and strict control of media content ahead of the September 2025 constitutional referendum, illustrating the growing restriction of public freedoms. This shrinking civic space is part of a broader context marked by repeated violations of freedom of expression, association, and civic rights since the Comité National du Rassemblement pour le Développement’s seizure of power in September 2021, with an increase in arbitrary arrests, media censorship, and intimidation of political and civil society actors. Reports by independent organisations confirm this worrying trend, including ARTICLE 19’s Global Expression Report (GxR), which categorises Guinea as ‘in crisis’, reflecting a global pattern of deep and sustained decline in freedom of expression.
For more information, please contact:
ARTICLE 19 West Africa
Office line: +221338690322 — E: senegal.westafrica@article19.org
Maateuw Mbaye, Program Officer/Protection & Civic Space +221785958337 E : maateuw.mbaye@article19.org