Guineans went to the polls
on Sunday October 18 to elect a new president, amidst extreme pre-election
tension and violence between supporters of the country’s two main political
parties.
So tense was the atmosphere
in Guinea six months before the elections, up to the eve of the elections that
the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament and a delegation visited the country about
a week to observe the election and caution the government, parliamentarians,
political stakeholders and the entire nation to exercise calm and restrain.
That notwithstanding, Guinea
continues to sit on a ticking time bomb as the nation awaits the result of the
presidential elections. On Tuesday morning, an ECOWAS elections monitoring
observer reporting from the capital Conakry said that a curfew was imposed on
Monday night and that the streets were empty with armed soldiers manning
checkpoints.
Signs of a looming electoral dispute began to appear
on Sunday when Diallo told reporters Conde could “cheat” his way to power.
Guinea’s security minister fired back that Diallo should “return to his senses.”
Tension was reignited when on Monday the Guinean
opposition candidate, Cellou Dalein Diallo called a meeting to declare that he
had won the first round of a high-stakes presidential election, based on
provisional results announced by a radio station.
“Despite the
serious anomalies that marred the smooth running of the election and in view of
the results that came out of the ballot boxes, I am victorious in this election
in the first round,” Diallo told journalists and cheering supporters on Monday,
a day after the vote was held.
“I invite all my fellow citizens who love peace and
justice to stay vigilant and committed to defend this democratic victory.”
Outside the building in the capital, Conakry,
supporters erupted in joy and chanted “Cellou, President.” Elsewhere in the
city, security forces fired tear gas canisters at crowds assembling in support
of Diallo.
The opposition leader did not give any figures but
said the tally was based on his party’s count, not an official tally being
conducted by the national election commission.
The elections body deplored
his statement, stating that it had not announced any official results, which
were expected to be announced on Tuesday, latest Wednesday.
Bakary Mansare, Vice President of the electoral
authority on Monday, told the AFP news agency Diallo’s purported victory was
“premature” and “void.”
“It is not up to a candidate or a person to proclaim
himself the winner outside the bodies defined by the law,” he said.
The electoral commission said Diallo’s claim
carried no weight. “The Independent National Electoral Commission is the
only body authorized to give provisional results. It is neither for a political
party nor for any individual to do so,” Mamadi Kaba, a spokesman for the Commission,
told Reuters. “We regret the
attitude of Mr. Diallo and we say that this declaration is null and
void,” he added.
Security Minister Damantang Albert Camara earlier
accused Diallo’s party of publishing false results, and warned it risked
triggering violence.
“This strategy of forced, premature and
unjustified celebration was carefully planned well before the election,” Camara
said in a statement.
Diallo’s announcement sets the stage for a showdown
with the government, which insists Sunday’s vote was fair and the official
electoral authority must declare the results.
Guinea‘s government said in a statement late on Monday
that Diallo’s statement was irresponsible and could sow confusion and
undermine peace in the country. It warned it could launch criminal charges
against him.
The ruling party also released
a press statement denouncing Diallo’s conduct, stating that they expected
better from him as an elderly statesman who has served the country as prime
minister.
Diallo, 68, is the main challenger to Guinea’s
82-year-old incumbent President Alpha Conde, who is seeking a third term in
office after a constitutional change in March.
Whilst opposition members are deeply suspicious of
the fairness of the poll, as well as the independence of Guinea’s electoral
authority, polling day was mostly calm. However, it followed months of protests
against a third term for Conde which was met with a harsh response by security
forces. Dozens of people were killed during the mass demonstrations against
Conde’s re-election bid.
