On August 22, 2025, Guinea’s military junta announced the suspension of three major political parties for a period of three months. This move came just ahead of an electoral campaign centered on rewriting the country's constitution and a scheduled constitutional referendum on September 21, 2025. The suspended parties include the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) led by former president Alpha Condé, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) headed by former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress (PRP).
The junta justified the suspensions by stating that these parties "have not fulfilled the obligations required of them," according to the official order seen by AFP. This suspension is part of a broader political tightening as the military, under General Mamadi Doumbouya—the head of the junta since his 2021 coup that ousted Alpha Condé—prepares for the constitutional referendum and the promise of a return to civilian rule that is fiercely contested by opposition groups.
The suspension has triggered opposition outrage. Opposition and civil society groups have organized demonstrations planned to start on September 5, aiming to denounce what they label a power grab by Doumbouya’s regime. Since taking power, the junta has banned protests and arrested, prosecuted, or forced many opposition leaders into exile.
The constitutional referendum slated for September 21 is set to vote on a draft constitution that could pave the way for a return to civilian government but remains ambiguous about whether Doumbouya himself could run for presidency, which was previously restricted by the transition charter.
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