GUINEA

Summary of Upcoming Elections

LEGISLATIVE
September 24, 2013

ELECTION ANALYSIS
The prospective elections in May have been a source of instability in Guinea since they were first postponed in 2007 . The last legislative elections were held in June 2002. The legislature was dissolved by military leader Moussa Dadis Camara in December 2008 and February 2010, the interim government appointed a 155 member National Transition Council (CNT) that has since acted in the legislatures place1. In April 2012, the election was postponed indefinitely by President Alpha Cond, who cited the need to ensure the election would be transparent, credible and democratic. 2 The elections have recently been postponed again, after initially being scheduled for May 12, 2013. While President Cond first signed a decree on April 13, 2013 fixing a new date for June 2013, strong opposition protests accusing President Cond of manipulating the polls led to a UN-mediated agreement setting the final election date to September 24, 2013.3 Some important steps forward have been taken since the 2010 presidential polls, which, despite being deemed legitimate by domestic and international observers,4 were also the cause of political conflict and increased ethnic tensions.5 A new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was created in September 2012, and some dialogue started between Conds government and the opposition through the Inclusive Framework for Political Dialogue. However, this progress has yet to lead to any concrete results. Talks ceased after March 2012, with many important divisive issues left unresolved.6 The two main causes of dispute have been accusations of favoritism based on ethnicity, on the part of the President, and squabbles over the electoral system (see Driving Issues). To overcome these issues, the Government must make a real effort to engage with the opposition leaders. Holding the election before this has been done could lead to vio-

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lent conflicts. Political violence and casualties in Conakry have already been reported, as supporters of the opposition protest against the June 30th election date.7 The President may feel pressured to hold the elections before it is opportune to do so, because of the large amounts of foreign aid that is con-

tingent on timely elections being held.8 It appears increasingly likely that the elections will take place before the system is ready. If this is the case then Guinea may be unsettled by electoral violence and civil unrest.

Summary of Previous Elections9 Legislative Elections June 30, 2002 The National Assembly (Assemble Nationale) Population and number of registered voters: Total population: 10,221,80810 Registered Voters: 4,458,831 Results: Party Party for Unity and Progress (PUP) Union for Progress and Renewal (UPR) Union for the Progress of Guinea (UPG) Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) National Alliance for Progress (ANP) Number of Seats (180) 85 20 3 3 2

Others 1 Rassemblement du peuple de Guine (RPG) / Rally of the Guinean People

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Major Political Parties

Leadership: Alpha Cond Founding Date: April 1992
11

Founding Date: Not available Platform: Aims to promote democracy and social cohesion, rejecting all forms of discrimination and agrees to include all Guineans wishing to participate in the political program. The party is committed to strengthening civil liberties, creating conditions for the emancipation of women and adheres to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.13

Platform: The party is mainly supported by the Guinean Malinke population.

Parti de lEspoir pour le Dveloppement National (PEDN) / Party for the Hope of National Development Leadership: Lansana Kouyate Founding Date: Not available Platform: PEDN adheres to the ideology of democratic liberalism and believes the individual must have freedom to flourish physically and morally. It is the role of the state to ensure the social stability of the nation through a better distribution of wealth12

Union des Forces Rpublicaines (UFR) / Union of Republican Forces Leadership: Sidya Toure Founding Date: 1992 Platform: The UFR is a moderate Social Democratic party that aims at unifying the country.14

Union pour le Progrs de la Guine (UPG) / Union for the Progress of Guinea Leadership: Jean Marie Dore Founding Date: Not available Platform: Not available

Driving Issues
The legislative elections have been delayed partly by disputes over the electoral system. Since then accusations of plans to rig the election have stirred the population and political parties alike.15 The integrity of the voter registry has been called into question and the inclusion of the Guinean diaspora has been hotly contested. Opposition parties claim that the incumbent government does not want to hold a free and fair vote.16 President Cond has also been accused of

Union des Forces Dmocratiques de Guine (UFDG) / Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea Leadership: Cellou Dalein Diallo

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awarding government posts solely to members of his Malink ethnic group.17 Ethnic tensions in Guinea have been building since independence, and human rights reports have noted discrimination in employment, housing and marriage patterns.18 The 2010 elections saw direct confrontations between Peuls and Malinks, resulting in violence and destruction of property.19 Many in the Peul community feel that it is their turn to rule Guinea.

Inter-Parliamentary Union, Guinea National Assembly, http://www.ipu.org/parline/reports/2131_E.htm, accessed 5/15/2013

10 http://www.freebase.com//m/03676, accessed 7/23/13 11 Information on the Rally for the Guinean People , http:// www.ecoi.net/local_link/177991/294938_de.html, accessed 5/15/2013 12 Translated from www.pednespoir.org, accessed 5/15/15 13 http://www.ufdgonline.org/, accessed 5/15/2013 14 www.ufrguinee.com, accessed 5/15/2013 15 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/15/us-guinea-politics-idUSBRE92E0I520130315, accessed 5/5/2013

Endnotes
1 CIA World Factbook, Africa:Guinea, https://www.cia.gov/ library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gv.html, accessed on 5/5/2013 Guinea President Postpones Parliamentary Elections Indefinitely http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/guinea-president-postpones-parliamentary-elections-indefinitely, accessed 5/15/2013 Guinea election body sets legislative polls for September 24 , http://alturl.com/of4gh, accessed7/23/13 Guinea Freedom in the World Report , http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/guinea, Guinea: A Way Out of the Election Quagmire (ICG), http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/west-africa/ guinea/199-guinea-a-way-out-of-the-election-quagmire. aspx accessed 5/5/2013 Guinea: A Way Out of the Election Quagmire Guinea Opposition to Relaunch Protests Over New Election Date Guinea Elections: clashes as police break up protests . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22206069, accessed 5/5/2013

16 Guinea: A Way Out of the Election Quagmire 17 Freedom in The World Report: Guinea, http://www. freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2012/guinea 18 Freedom in the World Report: Guinea 19 http://thinkafricapress.com/guinea/ethnicity-democracy-opposition-conde-diallo, accessed 5/15/2013

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