Guinean opposition leader Aliou Bah freed after 22 months
Mamadou Aliou Bah, leader of the Liberal Democratic Movement, completed a civic re-integration program after his release.
Mamadou Aliou Bah, president of the Liberal Democratic Movement (MoDeL), regained his freedom on Friday, November 6, 2026, after nearly two years in detention. The announcement came from his political party, which stated he had finished a 45-day civic training and re-integration preparation course. He had been pardoned by President Mamadi Doumbouya on October 2, 2026.
Bah was arrested on December 26, 2024, at the Pamelap border post while traveling to Sierra Leone. He was sentenced on January 7, 2025, to two years in prison for offending and defaming the head of state via a computer system. The Kaloum Court of First Instance handed down the sentence, which was upheld on appeal on May 28, 2025.
The MoDeL expressed gratitude to supporters and reaffirmed its commitment to democracy and the rule of law. The party's statement followed Bah's completion of his civic re-integration period.
Why it mattersOpposition leader Mamadou Aliou Bah has been released from prison after serving a sentence for defamation.