Alioune Tine denounces the censorship of a round table on enforced disappearances in Guinea

Alioune Tine, founder of Afrikajom Center, condemns the cancellation by Senegalese authorities of an international roundtable discussion on enforced disappearances in Guinea. He believes this decision undermines Senegal's human rights commitments and calls on the government to respect the international conventions it has ratified.

"The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which guarantees in its article 9 the right to information and freedom of expression, in its article 10 the freedom of association, and in its article 11 the right to peaceful assembly; the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, whose article 1 establishes respect for human rights, as enshrined in the African Charter, as a principle of constitutional convergence binding on all member states; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, whose article 19 protects freedom of opinion and expression, article 21 the right to peaceful assembly, and article 22 the freedom of association," reads a statement from Afrikajom Center.

The organization calls on the Senegalese authorities to comply with the commitments they have freely ratified and to guarantee the exercise of public freedoms.

She also recalls Senegal's historical role as a haven for Guinean human rights defenders. She cites, in particular, the cases of Alpha Condé, Cellou Dalein Diallo, and numerous other Guinean activists and trade unionists who were able to find refuge and express themselves freely in Senegal.

Finally, Afrikajom Center reaffirms its support for Tournons La Page Guinée and all organizations mobilized against enforced disappearances, calling for the preservation of the Senegalese tradition of protecting human rights and freedoms on the continent.

"Senegal has always stood with the Guinean people in their struggles for human rights. We can cite the cases of Alpha Condé, defended at the time by Senegalese political parties and civil society, and of Cellou Dalein Diallo, as well as Guinean activists and trade unionists who have always found asylum there and been able to express themselves freely. Senegal must continue today to remain a land of asylum and protection of human rights and freedoms on the continent," the organization states.