URGENT ACTION

ACTIVISTS RELEASED UNDER JUDICIAL SUPERVISION
Guinean pro-democracy activists Sékou Koundono and Ibrahima Diallo were released on 13 March, but they still face charges, and both remain under judicial supervision. Amnesty International believes the charges against them of assault, assaulting a public officer and production and dissemination of data threatening public order and security are trumped up and must be immediately and unconditionally dropped, pending investigation. 

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

 Mohamed Lamine Fofana
Minister of Justice
Rue KA 003 
Almamya Commune de Kaloum
BP: 564 Conakry
Email: malafof74@gmail.com 

Dear Minister,

While I welcome the release of activists Ibrahima Diallo and Sékou Koundono on 13 March, I am concerned that they are both subject to judicial supervision and that the trumped up charges against them of assault, assaulting a public officer and production and dissemination of data threatening public order and security are still pending.  

On 12 March, the Court of Appeal ordered the release of Ibrahima Diallo and Sékou Koundouno. The two activists were released on the next day, 13 March, but remain under judicial supervision. They must report once a week to the office of the investigating judge in charge of the case.

Amnesty International believes that the activists are facing trumped-up charges, linked to their comments regarding Commissioner Fabou Camara, violating their right to freedom of expression which is guaranteed by Guinea’s Constitution (article 7 and 10) and Guinea’s international obligations.  

In light of the above, I urge you to:

•	Immediately and unconditionally drop the charges against them and end the judiciary control;
•	Refrain from further arrests of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression. 

Yours sincerely,

Additional information

On 7 March, Ibrahima Diallo, operation coordinator of FNDC was in his house with his wife Asmaou Barry and activist Sékou Koundono when about 20 agents of the Research and Investigation Brigade (BRI in French) entered in the house without warrant.
According to Ibrahima’s wife, two BRI officers scaled the wall to open the gate. They broke the gate and then the second door to enter in the house.
FNDC is a coalition of non-governmental groups and opposition parties that boycotted the consultation process which started national demonstrations against the potential revision of the constitution in October 2019. Since FNDC announced the first protests, many protestors and bystanders were killed during demonstrations. Leaders of pro-democracy movements and scores of protestors have been arrested and sentenced. On 22 October 2019, the Tribunal of Dixinn found Abdourahamane Sano, Alpha Soumah (alias Bill de Sam), Ibrahima Diallo, Bailo Barry and Sékou Koundouno guilty of “direct incitement to an unarmed gathering”. Sano was sentenced to a year in prison and the others to six months. They were released on bail on 28 November 2019 pending their appeal.
The day before their arrest, FNDC had organized a press conference at the Conakry press house to respond to the accusations brought against them by the director of the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DPJ in French). During the press conference they accused Commissioner Fabou Camara, director of the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DPJ in French) of phone tapping, torture and other ill treatment. 
During a press conference on 5 March 2020,Commissioner Fabou Camara, director of the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DPJ in French) had established a link between the burning of a tank in Tombolia neighbourhood on the night of February 26-27 with FNDC activities. The Commissioner explained how, through infiltrations, wiretapping, the police services under his leadership, he came to the conclusion that the fire was one of many acts of violence decided during a planning meeting at which "Other FNDC members participated".
After being postponed, Guinea will hold legislative elections and a constitutional referendum on March 22.
Amnesty International has documented several arbitrary arrests and detentions of opponents of the referendum.
PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: FRENCH
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: [1 May 2020] 
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Sékou Koundono; Ibrahima Diallo (he/his)

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr29/1968/2020/en/

Additional information

Mamadou Taran Diallo
Minister of Citizenship and National Unity (in charge of human rights)
Email: mtdiallo84@gmail.com 

Also send copies to:
HIS EXCELLENCY Mr Alexandre Cece Loua  
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea
239 Old Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5QT
Fax: 020 7258 9640/46
embassyofguinea@gmail.com