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Guinea’s capital Conakry echoed with honking horns and sirens on Thursday as supporters of President Alpha Conde, who is seeking a controversial third term, toured the city in a caravan.
After weeks of combative campaigning, the 82-year-old president returned to Conakry ahead of Sunday’s tense elections, which follow months of political unrest in the West African country.
Conde’s re-election bid also comes after he pushed for a constitutional referendum in March that he said would modernize Guinea but allowed him to circumvent a two-term limit for presidents.
Opposition to this sparked mass protests since last October, sparking a massive crackdown by security forces and claiming dozens of lives.
Human rights groups are increasingly critical of Conde, who they say leans toward authoritarianism.
The main opposition candidate, Cellou Dalein Diallo, will return to Conakry. By JOHN WESSELS (AFP) Conde’s main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, returns to Conakry on Thursday, where thousands of supporters dressed in his match’s green and white colors will greet him.
Twelve candidates are contesting Sunday’s elections in total. However, most think that only Conde and Diallo are serious contenders.
After decades as an opposition activist, Conde became Guinea’s first democratically elected president in 2010 and won re-election in 2015.
Diallo, 68, now Guinea’s top opposition politician, was prime minister under authoritarian leader Lansana Conte.
After months of tension between the couple, Guineans interviewed by AFP expressed fears of possible violence on election day and the period that follows.
‘Hate speech’
Kabinet Fofana, a Guinean political scientist, warned that there was a danger that one of the candidates would not accept the outcome of the elections.
“A great difficulty is the question of recognition, acceptance of the results of the polls,” he said.
The result of the Guinea poll is likely to resonate further as well, kicking off a series of elections this year in West Africa.
Activists worry that a victory for Conde bodes ill for democratic norms in the region.
Critics say Conde is veering toward authoritarianism. By CAROL VALADE (AFP) Aside from the third presidential term, Guinea’s electoral campaign has been characterized by fears of increased ethnic tensions in the diverse country.
For example, Conde, who normally speaks French when addressing the nation, told voters last month in the Malinke language that backing a Malinke opposition candidate was tantamount to voting for Diallo.
Politics in Guinea are mainly based on ethnic lines. President Conde’s party is largely backed by the Malinke people, and Diallo’s UFDG by the Fulani people, although both insist they are pluralist.
In a context of ethnic concern, representatives of the United Nations and the African Union warned against “ethnic hate speech” in Guinea this month.
‘Go to the cemetery’
Diallo has accused Conde in the election campaign of exploiting ethnic divisions, a charge he denies.
But the opposition candidate has also questioned the 82-year-old’s ability to rule Guinea, urging him to “stand down with dignity.”
“He no longer has the physical and intellectual capacity to carry out this demanding function,” de Conde told French radio stations Diallo.
Guinea compared five key indicators with its regional neighbors. By (AFP) But Conde, seemingly defying criticism, has traversed Guinea at a rapid pace over the past week, promising excited crowds to make the country “Africa’s second (economic) power after Nigeria.”
Despite enormous mineral and freshwater resources, Guinea remains a poor country, where approximately half of its population, some 13 million people, live in poverty.
The president, for his part, has repeatedly criticized Diallo’s tenure under Conte, an autocrat. He has also ignored teasing about his age.
“Those who want to send me to the cemetery will go before me,” he told party activists in the southern city of Kissidougou.
Civil society activists are also preparing to monitor Sunday’s vote for possible fraud.
The Guinean bloggers association, which promotes digital rights and transparency, will have about 150 election observers across the country, for example.
Ballots open in Guinea on Sunday morning; a second round is scheduled for November 24.
