evidence: The coup came after a period of political instability following a March 2020 constitutional referendum that allowed Condé to run for a third term and the October 2020 presidential election, which were marred by violence. Security forces used excessive force during opposition-led demonstrations and arrested and detained over 350 leaders and members of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (Front national pour la défense de la Constitution, FNDC), a coalition of civil society groups and opposition parties, during the period surrounding the presidential vote. In April, Condé’s government released 40 of them. In September, the new military authorities released 79 others and allowed 4 opponents in exile to return to Guinea. [...] On September 18, the new military authorities allowed four exiled political opponents to return to Guinea, including FNDC member Sékou Koundouno. Guinean judicial authorities had issued an international arrest warrant against Koundouno in August, for criminal association, arson, insurrection, and disturbing the state through killing, destruction, and looting.