UN Experts Warn of Torture Risks for Abducted Human Rights Defenders in Guinea

In a strong statement, the experts urged the Guinean authorities to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Mr. Billo Bah and Mr. Sylla.

Experts from the United Nations and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights have expressed growing concerns for the safety of abducted human rights defenders Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla, warning that they are at imminent risk of torture, ill-treatment, and extrajudicial execution. These threats arise from their work in defending democracy and human rights in Guinea.

The experts condemned the actions taken against Bah and Sylla, stating, “Placing human rights defenders outside the protection of the law by failing to address these allegations and concealing their deprivation of liberty amounts to an enforced disappearance.” They emphasized that such actions violate fundamental human rights, which are now considered peremptory norms (jus cogens) under international law.

Urgent Calls for Action

In a strong statement, the experts urged the Guinean authorities to disclose the fate and whereabouts of Mr. Billo Bah and Mr. Sylla. They called for their immediate release and protection of their rights, and if allegations of enforced disappearance are confirmed, the authorities must identify, prosecute, and punish those responsible.

According to reports, a group of approximately ten individuals, including armed military officers and civilians, stormed a residential building in Conakry around 10 PM on July 7, 2024. They violently apprehended the two defenders and transported them in an armored vehicle belonging to the Guinean special forces. By July 11, 2024, they were allegedly moved to a detention center on Kassa Island, but the authorities have not disclosed their current status, health, or well-being.

Concerns About Enforced Disappearances

The experts expressed deep regret that the enforced disappearance of Bah and Sylla appears to be linked to their roles as coordinators of Tournons La Page Guinea (TLP-Guinea) and mobilizers for the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC). They highlighted that the abduction of political activists and human rights defenders instills fear and leads to broader human rights violations that impact the communities relying on their advocacy.

Additionally, the experts raised alarms over reports that other detainees have faced similar fates, being denied outside communication under conditions that may also constitute enforced disappearance. Some detainees have allegedly died in custody due to severe health issues exacerbated by a lack of timely and adequate medical care.

A Call for Accountability

The experts reiterated the urgent need for measures to combat impunity for serious human rights violations, including international crimes. They emphasized the rights of victims to truth, justice, and reparations must be upheld.

As the first-ever World Congress on Enforced Disappearances approaches, the experts called on all stakeholders—victims, organizations, human rights defenders, and legal advocates—to collaborate on concrete strategies aimed at ending enforced disappearances.

The situation remains dire for Bah, Sylla, and other defenders of human rights in Guinea, highlighting the critical need for international attention and action to safeguard the rights of those who risk their lives for the principles of democracy and justice.