Guinea’s opposition has condemned the abduction of Abdoul Sacko, a prominent critic of the ruling junta, by gunmen early on Wednesday morning. Sacko, the leader of the Active Forces Forum movement, which advocates for the return of civilian rule in Guinea, was arrested after intruders entered the attic of his Conakry home while he was praying.
Sacko’s wife, Oumou Barry, told that the attackers, dressed in military camouflage and wearing black masks, arrived at their home at around 4am. After they were unable to open the door, they broke through the ceiling, slapped Sacko and tied him up before taking him away. They also confiscated his phones.
The Active Forces Forum movement immediately condemned the abduction, blaming the Guinean military junta led by General Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup. The junta has repeatedly accused the government of suppressing dissent and restricting freedom of expression, banning protests and shutting down media outlets.
Sacko’s lawyer, Almamy Samory Traore, expressed concern that the abduction was not unexpected, as Sacko has regularly received threats. The lawyer is working to find Sacko through local police departments.
The opposition has called for Sacko’s “unconditional release” and demanded that any issues involving him be resolved through appropriate legal channels. Sacko was previously arrested in March 2023 for his role in organizing protests against the junta. Other opposition figures, including Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah, have also been missing since mid-2024, and Aliou Bah was recently sentenced to prison for insulting Doumbouya.