GUINEA Republic of Guinea Head of state: Alpha Condé Head of government: Mamady Youla The security forces continued to use excessive force against demonstrators. Journalists, human rights defenders and others expressing dissent were arbitrarily arrested. Impunity was widespread. The right to adequate housing was not fulfilled. BACKGROUND The postponement of local elections until February 2018, along with speculation about whether President Condé would run for a third term, led to social and political tensions. FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY At least 18 people were killed and dozens were injured during demonstrations. In February, seven people were killed in the capital, Conakry, during protests connected to a strike over the authorities’ decision to review teachers’ terms and conditions, and to school closures. The security forces dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas, batons and live ammunition. On 20 February, the police arrested seven human rights defenders of the Voice of the People movement who had organized a sit-in in Conakry calling for schools to reopen. They faced charges of “disturbing public order”, later amended to “participating in an unlawful assembly”, and were released the same evening. Three days after his release, national television journalist Hassan Sylla − one of the seven − was suspended from his job for six months for gross misconduct; no explanation was given. Security forces used live ammunition during violent protests against poor living standards in the Boké region in April, May and September. At least four people died from gunshot wounds. On 22 August, former soldier and trade unionist Jean Dougou Guilavogui was arrested by gendarmes in Matoto, a Conakry 182 neighbourhood, and taken to a gendarmerie detention centre. He was charged with “participating in an unlawful assembly” and was detained without trial at the Maison centrale, Conakry’s main prison, until his release on bail on 21 December. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Journalists, human rights defenders and others expressing dissent were beaten and arbitrarily detained. At least 20 people were arrested solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and 20 others were subjected to police violence. In February, Radio Lynx FM reporter Mariam Kouyaté was arrested by security agents as she investigated health services at the Ignace Deen Hospital in Conakry. She was questioned at a police station after refusing to hand over her press badge and recording equipment, and released the same day without charge. In May, Gangan TV journalist Aboubacar Camara was beaten by gendarmes as he filmed a land dispute in a Conakry suburb where he believed the security forces were using excessive force. The officers forced him into their car, took him to the gendarmerie and released him later the same day after deleting his recordings. In June, the High Authority of Communication suspended Espace FM radio presenter Mohamed Mara for one month on grounds that he had used “insulting” language during a radio debate on polygamy. In November, the Authority ordered that the radio station be taken off air for one week after the station discussed under-resourcing in the army which the authorities claimed could undermine national security and morale among the armed forces. In July, National Television suspended Alia Camara, one of their journalists, for criticizing the low pass rate in baccalaureate examinations. On 27 June, gendarmes arrested guinéematin.com journalist Amadou Sadio Diallo in Lélouma for “disturbing public order” after he published what the authorities described as “false news” about a possible Amnesty International Report 2017/18