Guinea releases political opponent Aliou Bah from detention

The government of Guinea released political opponent Aliou Bah on November 6 following nearly 23 months of imprisonment.

Bah, a leader of the Mouvement démocratique libéral (MoDeL), faced a two-year prison sentence after a January 2025 conviction for insulting and defaming President Mamadi Doumbouya. Bah received his freedom after the government granted a presidential pardon to him and 216 other detainees on October 2 to mark Guinea's independence day.

This pardon required the recipients to complete a 45 day civic training program to prepare for reintegration into society. The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (Cedeao) had requested the immediate and unconditional release of Bah in late September. While his release was originally expected in December at the end of his sentence, his party announced his freedom arrived earlier than planned.