In Guinea, on Friday September 15, the Supreme Court was the scene of a sit-in organized by the Association of Magistrates of Guinea (AMG) to defend the independence of justice. One of the main reasons for mobilizing the AMG is the reinstatement of the judge and the deputy prosecutor of the Labé first instance court, suspended by the Minister of Justice on August 16.
More than fifty magistrates came to demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court, sometimes coming from remote regions such as Macenta, approximately 800 kilometers from Conakry. They affirm their determination to make their voices heard in the face of the decisions of the Minister of Justice which, according to them, undermine the independence of justice.
The mobilization is strong and Théophile Kouadio, spokesperson for the AMG, welcomes the scale of the movement, stressing that many magistrates are tired of the actions of the Minister of Justice and have decided to protest during this sit-in . The demands of the magistrates are clear: they ask the minister to reverse his decisions to allow the proper functioning of justice and respect for the law.
This strike by magistrates, which has lasted for more than a month, now risks disrupting the start of the judicial term scheduled for two weeks. But magistrates are ready to take all necessary means to defend values as essential as the independence of justice.
During this sit-in, the magistrates submitted a list of 12 demands to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court, including the lifting of the suspension of their colleagues. However, the Ministry of Justice has not reacted to date.
This mobilization of magistrates in Guinea highlights the importance of the independence of justice in a country and recalls the importance of respecting the principles of separation of powers. Ensuring an impartial and impartial judiciary is essential to preserve the rule of law and ensure citizens’ confidence in the justice system. The situation in Guinea remains to be closely monitored as magistrates continue to fight to defend their rights and their independence.