Oumar Sylla
Oumar Sylla, alias Foniké Menguè is a human rights defender and member of Front National pour la Défense de la Constitution (National Front for the Defence of the Constitution-FNDC), a citizen movement that has initiated a series of demonstrations since October 2019 in Guinea to protest against the amendment or adoption of a new constitution allowing President Alpha Condé to run for a third presidential term. Oumar Sylla is also the deputy coordinator of Tournons La Page Guinea (Let's turn the page-TLP), a movement promoting democratic processes and citizen participation. The TLP organisation is active in 10 African countries and advocates for freedom of expression and assembly in efforts to engage all levels of civil society in the democratic process. It mainly conducts its advocacy through demonstrations, campaigns and public debates.
Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression have been particularly undermined with recent demonstrations being repressed using tear gas and firearms. Protestors are opposing a potential revision of the constitution that would allow President Alpha Condé to run for a third term in next year’s election.
