Guinea: an FNDC official, before the courts for "illegal assembly"

Demonstration of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) on January 6, 2020 in Conakry.

CELLOU BINANI / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Oumar Sylla, nicknamed Foniké Menguè, an official of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), appeared on Monday before the court of Mafanco, in Conakry.

This activist was arrested on September 29 and is being prosecuted for "illegal assembly".

Charges and a procedure that the defense rejects.

Publicity

Read more

Oumar Sylla is an FNDC official.

This activist had already been the subject of legal proceedings at the beginning of the year: he had been arrested at his home at the end of April 2020, for "

 disclosing false news

 ".

His trial in August ended in a dismissal.

A month after his release from prison, this FNDC activist was

arrested again

, this time for "

 illegal assembly 

" in Conakry.

On December 25, his case became publicized: Oumar Sylla began a hunger strike to denounce his long pre-trial detention and demand that his trial be held.

Lawyers plead for acquittal

This Monday, in the court of Mafanco, the prosecutor requested a year in prison, considering that Oumar Sylla was released on September 29 to demonstrate, while gatherings were prohibited in the capital.

Traditional indigo blue boubou, cap screwed on the head and dark glasses, Oumar Sylla for his part rejected these accusations.

This activist believes that his arrest was arbitrary, he was just going to a court summons, he says.

His lawyers plead for his release and his immediate release.

The deliberation was set for Thursday, January 14.

►Also read: Guinea: the NGO "Tournons la Page" denounces the incarceration of a civil society activist

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Guinea

  • NGO

  • Justice