Accused of conspiring against the government, Sidya Touré, the president of the Union of Republican Forces (Union des forces républicaines, UFR), was arrested at the end of April 2004 by government authorities (Europa 2004 2004, 1952; Africa Research Bulletin 27 May 2004, 15725). He spent one night in detention (ibid.). He was later formally charged with plotting a coup (Africa Confidential 30 Apr. 2004; BBC 28 Apr. 2004; Africa Research Bulletin 27 May 2004, 15725) before being released on bail (ibid.; BBC 28 Apr. 2004). He was prohibited from participating in political activities (Europa 2004 2004, 1952) and travelling outside of the country (ibid.; BBC 28 Apr. 2004).

A July 2004 report stated that an appeal court cleared the UFR's president of the conspiracy charges that had been laid against him three months earlier; therefore, Sidya Touré was able to resume his normal activities (IRIN 22 July 2004).

In addition, several sources indicated that other prominent UFR members had also been arrested in March and April 2004 and accused of conspiring against the government (Europa 2004 2004, 1952; IRIN 22 July 2004; BBC 28 Apr. 2004; Jeune Afrique-L'Intelligent 11 Apr. 2004). According to one source, Rougui Barry, a member of the UFR's executive committee, and Ibrahim Camara, leader of the party's youth wing in Paris, were among those arrested (ibid.). The same source stated that Baïdy Aribot, an official at the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, was also arrested; although not a UFR activist, he was reportedly close to Sidya Touré (ibid.).

No information on the current situation of those arrested could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Moreover, Country Reports 2003 noted that by May 2003, Sidya Touré had been brought in for questioning three times with regard to political meetings that his party had organized in Conakry, the capital (25 Feb. 2004). Without specifying an arrest date, Africa Confidential stated in its 19 December 2003 edition that the UFR's president had been detained and questioned with regard to student riots which took place following a rally organized by Touré in Gbessia, in the suburbs of Conakry, a few kilometres away from the university (7). According to the same source, some rank-and-file members of the opposition were under the surveillance of security forces and severe human rights violations have reportedly been committed against them (Africa Confidential 19 Dec. 2003, 7). The source did not, however, name any of those members.

More recently, a dispatch from Agence France Presse (AFP) reported that Sidya Touré participated in a meeting, held on 5 January 2005 in Conakry, with Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo and leaders of several political parties, including opposition parties (AFP 5 Jan. 2005). According to the same source, the UFR's president was pleased that a dialogue had been initiated with those who had boycotted the government's earlier dialogue attempts; according to the opposition, the government used [translation] "intimidation" in these earlier attempts (ibid.).

For information on the UFR's organizational structure, its leaders, including the members of its national executive committee, and its statutes and regulations, please see the party's Website at: http://www.ufrguinee.net.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Africa Confidential [London]. 30 April 2004. Vol. 45, No. 9. "Guinea: Plot News."

_____. 19 December 2003. Vol. 44, No. 25. "Guinea: No Change There, Then."

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 27 May 2004. Vol. 41, No. 4. "Guinea: Former Premier Charged: Sidya Touré Was Plotting a Coup, the State Claims."

Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 January 2005. "Le premier ministre invite les partis politiques au dialogue." http://www.lintelligent.com/pays/guinee/gabarit_art.asp?art_cle=AFP52555lepreeugola0 [Accessed 21 Jan. 2005]

BBC. 28 April 2004. "Charges Over Guinea 'Coup Plot'." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3666381.stm [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27731.htm [Accessed 21 Jan. 2005]

The Europa World Year Book 2004. 2004. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). 22 July 2004. "Guinea: Former Prime Minister Cleared of Plotting to Overthrow President." http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42321 [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent. 11 April 2004. Cheikh Yérim Sekh. "Fuite en avant répressive?" http://www.jeuneafrique.com/gabarits/articleJAI_online.asp?art_cle=LIN11044fuiteevisse0# [Accessed 25 Jan. 2005]

Union des forces républicaines (UFR). n.d. "Union des forces républicaines (UFR) : Bureau exécutif national." http://www.ufrguinee.net/ladirection.php [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

_____. 12 October 2000. "Statuts." http://www.ufrguinee.net/statut.php [Accessed 18 Jan. 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites including: Amnesty International, Ecoi.net, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Jeune Afrique/L'Intelligent, Reliefweb.