By Ayo Kehinde
Thousands of Guineans have taken to the streets in anti-government demonstration marches against plans by President Alpha Conde to amend the Constitution to stay in office for a third term.
The protest which started in October 2019 in the capital Conakry has gradually spread to other cities like Kankan with a population of 190,000, Gueckedou with over 220,000, with the number of protesters swelling. Others towns experiencing the demonstrations are Labe, Pita, Dalaba, Mamou and Boke. Many of the protesters are dressed in red as a symbol of defiance.
President who is 81 years old is expected to leave office in December 2020 when his second 5-year term in office expires, according to the Constitution.
Many of the protesters carried placards reading: “No to a new constitution” and “No to a third mandate for Alpha Conde”.
Coordinating the protest is the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), an alliance of opposition groups. Leader of the group Abdourahmane Sanoh said there were plans to increase the number of rallies from January 13.
“I ask that the all Guinean people be ready from January 13,” he said.
Conde’s self-succession bid has polarised the country as the two major ethnic blocs the Malinke, Conde’ s ethnic stock and the second largest is pitched in a long drawn battle with the Fulanis, who are the largest and supporters of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by Cheich Mohammed Kaba. Conde’s supporters have clashed with the protesters leading to the injury of 12 persons.
Legislative polls come up on February 16 and the protesters want to prevent that from happening as the first step to foiling Conde’s plan.
