Guinea’s ruling junta has placed the three main parties under observation and dissolved 53 others in what it termed a major political “clean up”, according to an official document seen by AFP Tuesday.
The results of the “political parties’ evaluation” have been published two months before the junta’s deadline to hand power back to civilians, which it had initially agreed under international pressure.
It has since admitted it will not fulfil the commitment by the end of 2024.
The junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, has presided over an ongoing crackdown on dissent, with many opposition leaders detained, brought before the courts or forced into exile.
The ministry of territorial administration, which authored the report, described the evaluation of political parties as the “first operation of its kind in Guinea” and justified it by a need to “clean up the political arena”.
It cited non-compliance with legislation, including parties not having a registered national office, valid licence or transparent financial accounts.
The report also said a lack of party regulation had resulted in “numerous incidents of abuse in the exercise of public freedoms by party leaders and activists, and risks to Guinea’s social equilibrium”.
Out of 211 parties, 53 were dissolved, 54 suspended for a period of three months and 67 placed “under observation” for three months –- after which they could face suspension if any breaches are not rectified.
The ministry said it did not assess another 37 parties.
Among those placed under observation were the three main anti-junta parties, including the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) led by former civilian president Alpha Conde, who was toppled by the 2021 coup.
The leaders of all three parties are in exile.
The report made no mention of a return to civilian rule in the West African nation, which remains poor despite considerable natural resources.
Several members of the government have spoken in favour of junta chief General Mamady Doumbouya running in a possible future presidential election, despite his initial pledge not to stand.
The junta banned all demonstrations in 2022 and the crackdown on unauthorised protests has led to dozens of deaths, according to rights organisations and civil society groups.