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President Lansana Conte has ruled Guinea since 1984, first as head of a military junta and, since 1994, as a civilian president. His government has retained firm control over all aspects of life in Guinea, including freedom of speech and association. The government has made some efforts to engage the political opposition and civil society. Still, democratic institutions are very weak. Human rights groups report that security forces operate with impunity, and people continue to suffer arbitrary and prolonged detention.
Guinea’s repressive political climate has severely limited the ability of independent organizations to challenge those structures of power that engage in or tolerate human rights abuses. Many so-called civil society organizations are closely affiliated with the government. The Fund is beginning outreach to human rights activists in Guinea with an eye toward identifying and cultivating the “next generation” of activists. The Fund seeks to support access to skill-building in human rights work, ongoing technical assistance, and exposure to regional and international human rights mechanisms.
