Guinea: Lawyers go on strike over arrests and military action

Courts in Guinea have been paralyzed after lawyers began a nationwide strike in protest against the military regime’s “arbitrary arrests” and “secret detentions,” the Bar Association said.

The strike is the latest sign of growing outrage over the arrest of two prominent activists calling for a return to democracy.

France’s far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose coalition won the most seats in last week’s parliamentary elections, also called for her release.

Guinea’s military overthrew President Alpha Condé in 2021 following mass protests against his rule following his controversial third-term election victory.

Many Guineans welcomed the coup, but now accuse the military of cracking down on opposition members and breaking its promise to return power to a democratic government.

The Bar Association said lawyers would boycott court hearings for the next two weeks until July 31.

“The courts are not closed, but their activities are rather paralyzed,” said their spokesman Gabriel Kamano.

The lawyers plan to return to court on August 1, a day after the verdict is due to be announced in the trial of former military ruler Dadis Camara for crimes against humanity.

The case was closely followed in Guinea because it is one of the worst massacres in the country’s history: more than 150 people were killed during a protest against military rule in 2009. Numerous women were also raped.

Mr Camara, the country’s then head of state, and other officials involved in the massacre face charges of multiple murders, sexual violence, torture, abduction and kidnapping.

They all denied the allegations against them.

Authorities insisted that the trial would continue, but because of the strike it is unclear whether the verdict will be read that day.

The strike follows the arrest on July 9 of Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Bah, leaders of a civil movement critical of the junta government.

The human rights organization Amnesty International called on the government to release them “immediately.”

It says authorities should disclose where they are being held and give them access to lawyers and family visits.

Mr Mélenchon also commented on the arrests in the former French colony.

“France is in close contact with those in power. It must intervene so that they are immediately released and taken out of danger,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

For months, the Guinean authorities have been cracking down on peaceful protests and are trying, among other things, to mobilize the population for a return to democracy.

The junta has been criticized for suspending media outlets, restricting internet access and brutally cracking down on demonstrations.