In Guinea, the government has dissolved 40 political parties, including three of the country’s main opposition groups, through a decree issued on Friday night.

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation said the move was taken because the parties failed to fulfil their legal obligations. The decree also strips the affected organisations of control over their assets.

Among the parties dissolved are the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) led by Cellou Dalein Diallo, the Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG) led by former president Alpha Condé, and the Union of Republican Forces (UFR).

The decision comes less than two months after Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as president following a controversial election in which major opposition leaders were barred from contesting.