Parrot’s Beak Region Sees Surge in Irregular Activity Amid Economic and Political Instability

The Parrot’s Beak region, where Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia meet, has witnessed a significant increase in irregular movement of people and goods in recent years. This trend is linked to the country’s economic and financial environment, which is characterized by poor record-keeping, weak law enforcement, corruption, and an informal cash-based economy.

Economic Challenges

• Guinea’s Financial Intelligence Unit, established to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, remains non-operational, hindering efforts to curb these activities.
• The country’s regulatory environment is plagued by widespread corruption and impunity within public institutions, making it difficult for businesses to thrive.
• Limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, logistics deficiencies, and low government capacity have also undermined investor confidence.

Human Trafficking

• Despite challenges, there are positive developments:
  • The government has approved standard operating procedures for identifying human trafficking victims.
  • Authorities have identified an increased number of forced labor victims, including children.
• However, the fight against human trafficking is hindered by:
  • Inadequate convictions in the judicial system
  • Shortage of personnel
  • Coordination issues
  • Social and political unrest
  • Impact of the pandemic

Prevention Efforts

• The government has conducted sensitization campaigns targeting communities along Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone and Senegal, which are common routes for traffickers bringing children for forced begging in Senegal.
• Organized crime, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and human trafficking, is also a concern.

Challenges to Combating Irregular Activity

• Strengthening civil society and media capacities continues to be hindered by inclusivity and engagement with all stakeholders.
• Civil society groups in Guinea face challenges seeking patronage from international donors or local actors, which puts them at risk of political co-optation.
• The whistleblowing atmosphere in the country is also hostile, restricting free expression and dissenting voices.

Press Freedom

• Journalists in Guinea have faced intimidation, occasional arrests, and violence during major political events.
• Crackdowns on protests and censorship of critical media outlets remain prevalent.
• While the Transition Charter guarantees freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, the transition authorities have routinely barred public protests and assemblies.