Guinea’s main opposition figure, Cellou Dalein Diallo, has strongly criticised the government’s decision to dissolve 40 political parties, saying the move shows that the country’s leadership is trying to silence its opponents.
Diallo said the situation leaves citizens with little choice but to resist the rule of President Mamady Doumbouya, who first came to power after a military coup in 2021.
Doumbouya, a former special forces commander, later won a seven-year presidential term in an election held in December 2025. However, several opposition groups disputed the results. The country is also expected to hold legislative elections in May.
On Friday, Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization announced that 40 political parties had been dissolved. According to the government, the parties failed to meet certain legal requirements, including submitting financial reports. The order also directed that their offices be shut down and banned them from using their logos or official symbols.
Some of the affected parties have rejected the government’s explanation, insisting they followed all the required rules.
In a video posted on social media on Sunday, Diallo said the decision shows that the government has “openly declared war” on the opposition. He urged Guineans to take part in what he called “direct resistance,” although he did not give details about what actions that would involve.
Diallo also argued that political change in Guinea would not come through dialogue or elections, accusing the leadership of trying to push the country toward a one-party system.
A government spokesperson has not yet responded to the criticism.
Diallo is currently living in exile outside Guinea. Former president Alpha Condé, who was removed from power during the 2021 coup, is also abroad. His political party was among those dissolved by the government.
Guinea has experienced several periods of political unrest in the past, including tensions during the 2020 election, which Diallo claimed he had won. The most recent presidential vote in December 2025 took place under tight security but did not record major violent incidents
