On 29 September 2020, Oumar Sylla was violently arrested (he ended up with his clothes and mask torn and a wound in his hand) by plainclothes men in the street in the commune of Matoto in Conakry as he was about to take part in a demonstration organised by the FNDC to protest against President Alpha Condé's candidacy for a third term. He was taken to the Directorate of Judicial Police (DPJ) where he was interrogated without his lawyers being able to assist him. They were refused entry to the DPJ premises, which is an infringement of the rights of the defence. A few hours later, the prosecutor of the Mafanco court decided to place Oumar Sylla under a committal order and have him imprisoned in Conakry's central prison.

Oumar Sylla, who was brought before an investigating judge in early October, was initially prosecuted for "criminal participation in a gathering on the public highway, damage to and destruction of public property, manoeuvres and acts tending to endanger public security or to cause serious disturbance to public order". However, after several questions during the investigation, the judge found only one offence against him, namely "unlawful assembly on the public highway".

Since Friday, December 25, 2020, Oumar Sylla has been on hunger strike to protest against his prolonged detention at the Central House in Conakry and to demand a trial without delay. This refusal by the authorities to keep Oumar Sylla in pre-trial detention without setting a trial date resembles a punishment for his commitment against Alpha Condé's third term in office. He ended his strike on 8 January 2021, after the date of his hearing had been scheduled. Very weakened by his strike at the end, he was hospitalised the same day.

On 28 January, after a postponement of the hearing initially scheduled for 14 January, Oumar Sylla was sentenced to 11 months in prison by the Mafanco court in Conakry for "criminal participation in a gathering likely to disturb public order". His lawyers and the prosecutor's office immediately appealed against the decision.

This is not the first time this civil society activist has been arbitrarily arrested and detained. Already arrested on 17 April 2020 on charges of "spreading false information", the charge was deemed unfounded by the criminal division of the Dixinn Court of First Instance. Oumar Sylla was then released on 27 August 2020 after more than four months of abusive imprisonment.

Mahamat Nour Ibedou is the Secretary General of the Chadian Convention for the Defence of Human Rights (CTDDH). He was arrested with dozens of others while demonstrating against the sixth candidacy of President Idriss Déby in the presidential election. After being quickly heard by a prosecutor, they were sent to N'Djamena prison.

Mahamat Nour Ibedou had already been arrested on 3 December 2019 following the denunciation by the CTDDH of acts of torture committed by Mr. Bokhit Bahar Itno, nephew of President Idriss Déby. He was released following a dismissal on 8 January 2020.

Following the revelation of a corruption scandal in Niger's Ministry of National Defence where billions of CFA francs were allegedly embezzled, civil society called for a demonstration on 15 March 2020. The rally, which aimed to demand that those involved in the scandal be sent to court, was violently repressed by the security forces, resulting in at least three deaths and numerous arrests. Maikoul Zodi, national coordinator of TLP-Niger, will thus spend more than six months in prison until his provisional release on 29 September 2020. Although released, charges are still pending against him and several other human rights defenders.

Following the revelation of a corruption scandal in Niger's Ministry of National Defence where billions of CFA francs were allegedly embezzled, civil society called for a demonstration on 15 March 2020. The rally, which aimed to demand that those involved in the scandal be sent to court, was violently repressed by the security forces, resulting in at least three deaths and numerous arrests. Halidou Mounakaila, General Secretary of the teachers' union, will spend more than six months in prison until his provisional release on 29 September 2020. Although released, charges are still pending against him and several other human rights defenders.

Following the revelation of a corruption scandal in Niger's Ministry of National Defence where billions of CFA francs were allegedly embezzled, civil society called for a demonstration on 15 March 2020. The rally, which aimed to demand that those involved in the scandal be sent to court, was violently repressed by the security forces, resulting in at least three deaths and numerous arrests. Moudi Moussa, journalist and regional coordinator of TLP-Niamey, will thus spend more than six months in prison until his provisional release on 29 September 2020. Despite his release, charges are still pending against him and several other human rights defenders.

Ibrahima Diallo, national coordinator of TLP-Guinea and a founding member of the FNDC, has been a victim of targeted repression against civil society leaders since the major demonstrations against the constitutional change in October 2019. Arrested several times, he spent 47 days in prison at the end of 2019 and again 6 days in March 2020. Since then, to escape death threats and arbitrary arrest attempts, he has been forced to live in hiding.

Sekou Koundouno has been active in the TLP-Guinea and the FNDC since the beginning of Alpha Condé's constitutional challenge. Together with Ibrahima Diallo, he has been violently arrested several times. He spends 47 days in prison at the end of 2019 and again 6 days in March 2020. Since then, in order to escape death threats and arbitrary arrest attempts, he has been forced to live in hiding.