Guinea opposition warns of one-party state after military leader dissolved 40 political parties

Conakry, Guinea (Running Africa) - Exiled opposition figure Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), accused Doumbouya of systematically dismantling democratic institutions and tightening his grip on power in the West African nation.

Diallo was responding to the junta's latest crackdown on political opposition, following Guinea's Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization's announcement on Friday that it had revoked the legal status of 40 political parties and frozen their assets. Authorities said the parties had failed to meet constitutional and administrative requirements.

Among the major political groups affected were the UFDG, the Union of Republican Forces (UFR), and the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG), the latter being the former ruling party linked to ousted president Alpha Condé.

Opposition calls for resistance

Image: BBC

Diallo urged Guineans and opposition supporters to resist what he described as an increasingly authoritarian regime that has overstayed its mandate.

In remarks to AFP, he said the junta's decision had "formalized dictatorship" and pushed Guinea deeper into political uncertainty. He added that opposition parties had already exhausted legal channels and attempts at dialogue, with no meaningful response from the authorities.

The affected parties were first suspended in August last year, just weeks before a referendum that opened the door for Doumbouya to seek the presidency. At the time, the military government said the parties had failed to comply with Guinea's political charter.

Guinea's deepening political crisis

Image: Reuters

Guinea has faced prolonged political instability since the 2021 military coup that overthrew President Alpha Condé. Doumbouya, who led the coup, later installed himself as head of the transitional government.

Since taking power, Doumbouya has repeatedly delayed the return to civilian rule, drawing criticism from both domestic opposition groups and international observers.

Guinea is now expected to hold legislative elections, a process widely seen as critical to any credible transition from military rule to civilian democratic governance. But the dissolution of major opposition parties has raised fresh doubts about whether the electoral process will be free, competitive, or transparent.