Nation Yearns for Change With First Free Election in Guinea

Published on Monday 28th June 2010

Voters in Guinea went to the polls today, forming long queues for their first chance to freely elect a leader since the coup-prone West African state won independence from France in 1958.

As queues formed at polling stations, Interim Guinean military ruler Sékouba Konaté reiterated his pledge to quit power immediately after the ongoing electoral process.

Gen Konaté told newsmen in the capital Conakry at the sidelines of the plebiscite that arrangements were on course for a peaceful transition to civilian rule.

He expressed confidence in the new Guinean army as well as in the political class and civil society in the country without whose "honest contribution" he said "the worst would have happened."

"The role of the army at the moment and henceforth, is to protect the lives and properties of citizens and not the contrary," he said.

Gen Konaté has succeeded in giving a human face to the Guinean military which had been renowned for its indiscipline and ruthlessness.

A smooth election would not only act as a potential trigger for the investment needed to exploit the West African country's vast mineral riches and revive its economy, it could also act as a green light to international donors and lenders.

In the wider context a clean vote could also boost pro-democracy movements in a region that has seen a string of coups and tainted elections.

Last September an army crackdown on pro-democracy marchers led to more than 150 deaths and took Guinea close to civil war.

Weeks later, junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara was wounded in an assassination attempt by an aide and his Western-backed successor pledged to hand rule back to civilians.

Today, the streets of Conakry were quiet with traffic much lighter than normal, and most people who were outdoors were either calmly waiting to vote or returning from doing so.

Former Nigerian head of state General Yakubu Gowon, leading the Carter Center's election observation mission, said voting was going well.

"In some places it started a little late but it's gathered momentum. Voting is peaceful, orderly and there is a sense of excitement," he said, estimating turnout at 75-80 per cent.

"The future president must form a government that unites the candidates, even if not all of them," said Diallo Mamadou Yaya, a 23-year-old student who had just voted in the Dixinn neighbourhood.

He wanted the country's new government to break from the graft and self-interest that characterised the last days of former President Lansana Conte's administration. "Fighting corruption has to be their first priority, it cannot be tolerated. To rebuild Guinea, you have to start with that." Guinea is the world's top exporter of the aluminium ore bauxite and multinational mining companies are wrestling over its lucrative iron ore resources, yet a third of the population of 10 million live in poverty. Whoever becomes president will have a tough job transforming the country.

"We've tried to talk about the dividends of democracy not washing over the country immediately," said US ambassador Patricia Moller. "This is an important first step in the democratic process."

Six people were killed in clashes this week between rival political groups in the village of Coyah 50 km (30 miles) outside the capital, but it was the only serious outbreak of violence for weeks.