Guinea President Alpha Conde Wins Second Term; Opponent Vows to Protest 'Electoral Hold-up'
A local restaurant, whose owner supports Guinea’s incumbent President Alpha Conde, displays posters in Conakry, Guinea, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, Guinea President Alpha Conde is far ahead of his closest competitor in his bid for re-election and could garner enough support to avoid a runoff, according to preliminary results available Saturday. (AP Photo/Youssouf Bah)
By BOUBACAR DIALLO
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Guinea President Alpha Conde has won a second term, the election commission announced Saturday, avoiding a runoff with his closest rival, who vowed to protest the results.
"I proclaim that Alpha Conde has been elected president of the republic in the first round," election commission head Bakary Fofana said Saturday night.
Conde received nearly 58 percent of the Oct. 11 vote, while his main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, had 31 percent, Fofana said. About 68 percent of the approximately 6 million registered voters took part in the Oct. 11 election, Fofana said.
It was only the second democratic presidential contest since Guinea gained independence from France in 1958. Violence marked the run-up to the poll, with at least three people killed, and many worry that street protests in the coming days could lead to deadly confrontations with security forces.
At least seven people were killed in election-related violence in 2010 — when Conde defeated Diallo in a runoff — and some 50 people died in the run-up to Guinea's 2013 legislative elections, according to Human Rights Watch.
Earlier this week, Diallo and fellow opposition candidate Sidya Toure — who placed third in 2010 — alleged fraud and said they would not recognize the results.
Preliminary results available earlier Saturday placed Conde well out in front, and Diallo told reporters in a statement delivered from his Conakry home that he would organize demonstrations, saying he did not trust the courts to address his concerns.
"I will invite the other candidates and all the citizens who are the real victims of this electoral hold-up to organize, conforming to the law, peaceful demonstrations to express our disapproval of this situation," Diallo said.
Conde's supporters credit him with improving the electricity supply in the capital, Conakry, and keeping the country relatively stable despite an Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 2,500 people in Guinea.
"Before, we could only work at night when there was power. Bandits attacked us," said Magassouba Mamady, a 42-year-old metalworker in a Conakry suburb. "Now there is current 24 hours a day. Is that not reason enough to elect Alpha Conde?"
Voters: Guinea Election Process Needs Refining
by Chris Stein
VOA
Days after Guinea’s second democratic presidential election, the final results still have to be tabulated. But many Guineans, along with international observers, say the poor West African country must improve how it conducts voting.
President Alpha Conde was leading his seven challengers on Friday, based on preliminary results released by Guinea’s electoral commission from 22 of the country’s 33 prefectures. At least 80 percent of the votes had been counted since Sunday’s election.
Guinea’s opposition has already alleged fraud and called for the election’s annulment. Conde's main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, pulled out of the election Wednesday, declaring it a "farce." It was unclear whether his withdrawal would force a second round of voting.
International observers from the European Union said they had not seen fraud in the election. But they complained about a number of voting irregularities, such as delays in opening the polls and disorganized voter rolls, both of which caused long waits for voters.
Process questioned
People in Conakry echoed those views. Student Ismael Sylla said he isn’t fully confident that his vote counted.
Sylla said he knew many people who didn’t receive a voter card, required to cast a ballot. At his polling station, people were waiting to cast ballots until 9 p.m.
Hotel keeper Sylla Fatimata also said she knew of people who hadn’t received voting cards. She said Sunday’s voting process was less organized than the 2013 legislative elections. She said she hopes the electoral commission will be better prepared for the next election.
A spokesman for the country’s electoral commission was not available to comment on Friday.
In its preliminary assessment of the vote, the European Union said officials of the ruling Rally of the Guinean People party, or RPG, used state resources during their campaigns, violating the electoral code.
The opposition also has accused the president of distributing money to buy votes. Ahmed Traore, a spokesman for Conde's party, said handouts are expected of the leader when he visits communities but none were substantial enough to sway voters.
"When he visits the communities, he gives envelopes,” Traore said. “That envelope cannot buy the brain … cannot buy the conviction of the people."
The elections could get messier still. The opposition is expected to call for demonstrations and perhaps challenge the results in court if Conde wins.
http://www.voanews.com/content/guinea-election-process-needs-refining-voters-say/3010471.html
By BOUBACAR DIALLO
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Guinea President Alpha Conde has won a second term, the election commission announced Saturday, avoiding a runoff with his closest rival, who vowed to protest the results.
"I proclaim that Alpha Conde has been elected president of the republic in the first round," election commission head Bakary Fofana said Saturday night.
Conde received nearly 58 percent of the Oct. 11 vote, while his main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, had 31 percent, Fofana said. About 68 percent of the approximately 6 million registered voters took part in the Oct. 11 election, Fofana said.
It was only the second democratic presidential contest since Guinea gained independence from France in 1958. Violence marked the run-up to the poll, with at least three people killed, and many worry that street protests in the coming days could lead to deadly confrontations with security forces.
At least seven people were killed in election-related violence in 2010 — when Conde defeated Diallo in a runoff — and some 50 people died in the run-up to Guinea's 2013 legislative elections, according to Human Rights Watch.
Earlier this week, Diallo and fellow opposition candidate Sidya Toure — who placed third in 2010 — alleged fraud and said they would not recognize the results.
Preliminary results available earlier Saturday placed Conde well out in front, and Diallo told reporters in a statement delivered from his Conakry home that he would organize demonstrations, saying he did not trust the courts to address his concerns.
"I will invite the other candidates and all the citizens who are the real victims of this electoral hold-up to organize, conforming to the law, peaceful demonstrations to express our disapproval of this situation," Diallo said.
Conde's supporters credit him with improving the electricity supply in the capital, Conakry, and keeping the country relatively stable despite an Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 2,500 people in Guinea.
"Before, we could only work at night when there was power. Bandits attacked us," said Magassouba Mamady, a 42-year-old metalworker in a Conakry suburb. "Now there is current 24 hours a day. Is that not reason enough to elect Alpha Conde?"
Voters: Guinea Election Process Needs Refining
by Chris Stein
VOA
Days after Guinea’s second democratic presidential election, the final results still have to be tabulated. But many Guineans, along with international observers, say the poor West African country must improve how it conducts voting.
President Alpha Conde was leading his seven challengers on Friday, based on preliminary results released by Guinea’s electoral commission from 22 of the country’s 33 prefectures. At least 80 percent of the votes had been counted since Sunday’s election.
Guinea’s opposition has already alleged fraud and called for the election’s annulment. Conde's main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, pulled out of the election Wednesday, declaring it a "farce." It was unclear whether his withdrawal would force a second round of voting.
International observers from the European Union said they had not seen fraud in the election. But they complained about a number of voting irregularities, such as delays in opening the polls and disorganized voter rolls, both of which caused long waits for voters.
Process questioned
People in Conakry echoed those views. Student Ismael Sylla said he isn’t fully confident that his vote counted.
Sylla said he knew many people who didn’t receive a voter card, required to cast a ballot. At his polling station, people were waiting to cast ballots until 9 p.m.
Hotel keeper Sylla Fatimata also said she knew of people who hadn’t received voting cards. She said Sunday’s voting process was less organized than the 2013 legislative elections. She said she hopes the electoral commission will be better prepared for the next election.
A spokesman for the country’s electoral commission was not available to comment on Friday.
In its preliminary assessment of the vote, the European Union said officials of the ruling Rally of the Guinean People party, or RPG, used state resources during their campaigns, violating the electoral code.
The opposition also has accused the president of distributing money to buy votes. Ahmed Traore, a spokesman for Conde's party, said handouts are expected of the leader when he visits communities but none were substantial enough to sway voters.
"When he visits the communities, he gives envelopes,” Traore said. “That envelope cannot buy the brain … cannot buy the conviction of the people."
The elections could get messier still. The opposition is expected to call for demonstrations and perhaps challenge the results in court if Conde wins.
http://www.voanews.com/content/guinea-election-process-needs-refining-voters-say/3010471.html
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