Police in Guinea crack down on protest against constitutional change

CONAKRY (Reuters) – Protesters burned tyres and threw stones at
police in Guinea’s capital Conakry on Monday in the first of a
series of planned demonstrations against a possible change to the
constitution that could let President Alpha Conde seek a third
term.

While the number of protesters in demonstrations scattered
across the capital was low, the security services were out in
force, breaking up makeshift barricades and making some
arrests.

Conde’s second and final five-year term expires in 2020 but the
81-year-old leader has refused to rule out running again and asked
his government last month to look into drafting a new
constitution.

Two demonstrators were hit by gunfire from the security forces,
according to opposition leader Cellou Diallo’s chief of staff,
Nadia Nahman, and a resident called Alpha Balde.

Government official Souleymane Camara said the authorities could
not immediately verify the report and were investigating.

Political protests, labour strikes and demonstrations against
bauxite mining companies in the West African country often turn
violent.

The security forces blocked the opposition leaders who had
called for the demonstrations from leaving their homes on Monday
morning and detained civil society leaders over the weekend.

Conde’s first election win in 2010 ended two years of military
rule and raised hopes for democratic progress in Guinea, which was
governed by President Lansana Conte for nearly a quarter of century
until his death in 2008.

Conde’s opponents, however, say he has cracked down on dissent
since coming to office after years as an opposition figurehead
fighting against Conte’s authoritarian rule.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!