Guinea: FNDC coordinator, Foniké Mengué, arrested at his home
The FNDC announces the resumption of demonstrations if its coordinator is not released (illustration).
CELLOU BINANI / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Guinea, Foniké Mengué, journalist and national coordinator of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) was arrested on the night of Friday to Saturday July 30 at his home by a group of hooded and armed soldiers, according to the FNDC .
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Foniké Mengué was arrested in the middle of the night, around 2 a.m., by the gendarmerie – the Bata, the airborne troops of the army –, but also by the BRI, the unit for the fight against banditry and terrorism.
According to the FNDC, the Guinean journalist and activist was transferred this Saturday at midday to the headquarters of the high command of the gendarmerie in Kaloum, after spending a few hours at the Kalia military camp.
Sekou Koundouno, head of the FNDC, denounces a "
hostage taking
".
“
There is no indication in a text that we can pick up a citizen in his bed around 1 a.m.,
he remarks at the microphone of RFI.
CNRD President Colonel Doumbouya chaired
a public security meeting
yesterday [Friday] .
He was very clear: repress in blood all the dissonant voices so that he would be the only master on board.
»
This arrest comes a few hours after the FNDC announced at the request of the president of ECOWAS the
suspension of demonstrations for a week
, in order to give dialogue a chance.
But this dialogue, which already promised to be difficult with the announcement of legal proceedings against FNDC officials because of
these anti-junta demonstrations
, risks being even more complicated.
After the arrest of Foniké Mengué, the security forces blocked access to the headquarters of the FNDC but also those of two other opposition parties: the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), and the Union of Republican Forces (UFR).
This Saturday, the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution is calling for the “
pure and simple
” release of its coordinator.
"
Failing this, in the hours that follow, we will draw all the consequences and we will take to the streets of Conakry to demand both his release, but also the satisfaction of our legitimate demands which revolve around the opening of a dialogue framework to discuss all the issues that concern the nation,
warns Sekou Koundouno
.
The junta is neither legal nor legitimate.
They are not the emanation of the people of Guinea.
We cannot allow a group of buddies, rogues, friends, nephews and nieces to take our beautiful Republic hostage and turn it into a monarchy.
The Guinean security forces did not react to requests from RFI following these events in Conakry.
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