The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday expressed concern over the disappearance of two Guinea activists after their arrest by the country’s security personnel.
The human rights office urged Guinea to release the activists unless they were “formally charged in accordance with established judicial procedures, guaranteeing their right to an adequate legal defence.” The office also called on authorities to launch an investigation into the disappearance of the concerned individuals and verify the kind of treatment they received in custody.
Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah were arrested in the Guinea capital of Conakry on July 9, and fellow activist Mohamed Cisse was also arrested but was released soon after.
Sylla and Billo Bah are leaders of the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC). According to the FNDC, the two activists were detained by armed soldiers who took them to an unknown destination, describing the incident as a “kidnapping.” It was further alleged that the arrests were carried out without a warrant and that proper legal procedure was not followed. UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan also stated that the organization received reports claiming the activists were “subjected to acts of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment.”
The arrest occurred days after the FNDC called for mobilization to protest the worsening living conditions in the country, as well as to call for the restoration of the media outlets that have been shut down. Sylla himself posted about the mobilization on the morning of his arrest.
The FNDC is an opposition coalition movement aiming to restore civilian rule back to Guinea. The African nation, whose government was overthrown by a military coup in September 2021, has witnessed numerous protests in recent years. Last October, for instance, 13 journalists were arrested after participating in a peaceful demonstration. Amnesty International also reported in April that protestors are being met with unconstitutional force.
