The government has commenced a new assessment of political parties, a move that has sparked significant debate given that a similar evaluation was conducted just a year ago. The initiative, which began on Wednesday, involves a comprehensive tour across all 33 prefectures to verify the compliance of nearly 200 officially registered political parties.
However, amidst the backdrop of increasing repression by General Mamadi Doumbouya’s junta, including the shutdown of major independent media outlets, many opposition parties perceive this second round of assessments as an attempt to eliminate dissent.
The question that looms large is why the government has decided to undertake another evaluation so soon after the last. Of the 187 political parties in Guinea, only four, including the RPG of former President Alpha Condé, refused to participate in last year’s assessment conducted by the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
Prominent parties such as the UFDG led by Cellou Dalein Diallo and the UFR headed by Sidya Touré had fully cooperated in the previous evaluation. The government had reported no irregularities at that time, leaving these parties puzzled by the necessity for a new review.
This year’s assessment criteria could pose challenges for several parties. Neither the UFDG nor the UFR has held a legitimate congress in many years, with the UFDG’s last congress dating back to 2009. This lack of recent organizational activity might be scrutinized in the current evaluation.
Another critical focus will be on the funding mechanisms of these parties, which are often criticized for their lack of transparency. An anonymous UFR official noted that member contributions are typically insufficient due to the low incomes of their supporters, highlighting the financial difficulties faced by political parties in Guinea.
Many believe that General-President Mamadi Doumbouya is leveraging this evaluation to consolidate power by sidelining opposition parties, especially after curbing the independent press. The crackdown on media and now the political assessment are seen as efforts to remove any obstacles to his continued rule.