Guinea Lawyers Strike Over Military Intervention

Lawyers in Guinea are on strike in protest against the military regime’s repression of dissidents.

The country’s lawyers’ association on Tuesday condemned what it described as “arbitrary arrests” and the secret detention of citizens.

Lawyers were said to be boycotting the hearings until July 31.

The strike is said to have “paralysed” judicial proceedings, potentially disrupting a historic trial over a 2009 massacre seen as one of the darkest moments in the West African country’s history.

A court is expected to rule on the country’s former military leader, Moussa Dadis Camarafor alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of more than 150 people in a stadium in 2009, on July 31.

Authorities have insisted that the trial go ahead, but it is unclear whether the verdict will be delivered on that date due to the strike.

The strike follows the arrest on July 9 of Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Bah, leaders of a civil society movement that criticizes the junta-led government and calls for a return to civilian rule.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has called on the government to release them “immediately”.

Authorities are urged to disclose where they are being held, guarantee their safety and allow them access to lawyers and family visits.

France’s far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whose coalition won the most seats in the country’s recent parliamentary elections, has also spoken out about the arrests in Guinea, a former French colony.

“France is busy with the power that it has. It must intervene so that they are immediately released and put out of danger,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).

For months, Guinean authorities have been cracking down on peaceful protests and trying to mobilise people for a return to a democratic regime.

The junta has been criticized for closing media outlets, restricting internet access and brutally suppressing demonstrations.

At least 157 people were killed in 2009 when troops attacked people gathered in a stadium to protest against a previous military junta. Dozens of women were raped.

Mr Camara, the country’s leader at the time, is accused of multiple counts of murder, sexual assault, torture, kidnapping and abduction, as well as other officials involved in the massacre.

They all denied the accusations against them.