Rights Group Calls On Guinean Authorities To Probe Killings Of Protesters In 2018

A prominent international human rights watchdog has called on the government of Guinea to investigate the killings of protesters by the security forces during rallies in 2018

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th April, 2019) A prominent international human rights watchdog has called on the government of Guinea to investigate the killings of protesters by the security forces during rallies in 2018.

"The government of Guinea should set up a special task force of judges to investigate the conduct of the security forces and others engaged in unlawful acts during protests. The government's failure to adequately investigate a dozen alleged killings in 2018 by the security forces and several alleged killings by protesters risks fueling future abuses," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday.

In 2018, Guinea faced frequent and violent street protests, organized by nongovernmental groups and opposition parties in the wake of disputed local elections. There was also a long-running teachers' strike and the government faced the public anger caused by hikes in fuel prices.

The watchdog assumes that "further street protests are likely" as tensions mounting over whether President Alpha Conde will seek to amend the constitution and run for a third term in office.

"The failure to adequately investigate alleged misconduct by the security forces and violence by demonstrators risks fueling future cycles of political violence ... The Guinean government should take concrete steps to reverse the longstanding impunity for these kinds of violations. Families and victims deserve nothing less," Corinne Dufka, West Africa director at HRW, said as quoted in a press release.

The watchdog said citing witnesses that at least two police officers had been killed by protesters and at least eight protesters had been shot dead by security personnel last year.