Six bodies were discovered on Monday, August 24. They were found in a mass grave in Sabakhouré. The victims were blindfolded with their hands tied. The site is near the prefecture of Forécariah, about 100 kilometers west of Conakry. No information has been released about their identity or how they died. The Forécariah prosecutor has opened an investigation.
Young people collecting firewood found the bodies by chance. The mayor of Sabakhouré said a sector chief alerted him. Citizens had noticed unusual signs on the ground. The prosecutor was called in. Six unidentified bodies were uncovered. They were taken to the Forécariah hospital for forensic tests.
The circumstances are still unknown. However, human rights organisations are deeply concerned. An NGO sent a letter to diplomatic missions and the UN Human Rights Office. It said the method, the hidden location, and the lack of identification raise serious alarm. France has also expressed concern and called for an independent investigation.
Human rights defenders are not hopeful. One NGO coordinator said they have documented many cases since the 2021 coup. These include at least 35 forced disappearances, 12 abductions, and alleged extrajudicial executions. He cited the case of a critic of the 2021 takeover. The man was abducted at night by armed men in uniform on February 19, 2025. He was later found in critical condition near Forécariah.
A Human Rights Watch researcher recalled that in July 2024, security forces tortured and disappeared two opposition members. They are still missing. Authorities have not acknowledged their detention. Another mass grave was reported in October 2025 in the same area.
The location is particularly worrying. The incidents happened just kilometers from the Kaléah military camp. This is the headquarters of the special forces group. It is the elite unit from which Mamadi Doumbouya emerged. The camp also houses a gendarmerie training centre. French military cooperation has been ongoing there for years. It was from Kaléah that Doumbouya’s commandos launched the September 5, 2021 coup. They overthrew President Alpha Condé and seized power.
An opposition online journal claimed in May that Kaléah houses a secret prison. It operates outside any judicial procedure. The journal says it may be responsible for serious human rights violations. One NGO coordinator noted that this reminds them of the era of Sekou Touré. That dictatorship was marked by the torture and death of thousands of political prisoners.
Reference
Le Monde, “En Guinée, les soupçons d’exécutions extrajudiciaires se renforcent après la découverte de nouveaux corps,” published August 28, 2026. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2026/08/28/en-guinee-les-soupcons-d-executions-extrajudiciaires-se-renforcent-apres-la-decouverte-de-nouveaux-corps_6759057_3212.html