Two Protesters Have Been Killed During Continued Anti-Government Protests in Guinea

Guinea continues to be engulfed in anti-government protests which started in mid-October of last year. The protests are in response to proposed amendments to the West African country's constitution which will see President Alpha Condé running for a third term in this year's elections.

According to the BBC, two protesters have been shot dead during the anti-government protests which have brought Guinea to a standstill.

Among the protesters killed was a student from the capital city of Conakry and another youth from Labe, a city in the northern region of Guinea. Aljazeera reports that at least 20 protesters and one security officer have been killed since the massive demonstrations began.

The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) is the coalition of opposition parties and civil societies which has been organizing the demonstrations and mobilizing protesters. The FNDC issued a statement which partially read: "The FNDC's call for resistance is being widely followed in several cities in Guinea. This has resulted in a total paralysis of the main roads, the closure of shops and businesses."

Speaking at one of the protests held last year, prominent opposition leader Cellou Diallo said that, "We encourage citizens to continue to demonstrate - today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow - until our legitimate demands are satisfied. We need a clear, firm and irrevocable declaration from Alpha Condé renouncing a third term."

While President Condé has said in the past that a third term would be dependent on the "will of the people", this is however, very unlikely. According to local media reports, a massive campaign is currently underway to support and usher in the new constitution.

Protests are largely concentrated in Conakry, Boffa and N'Zerekore.