Guinea: FEMNET calls for peaceful and free and fair elections

Network (FEMNET) is extremely concerned with the unfolding pre-election violence in the Republic of Guinea and is calling on political leaders in Guinea to ensure that the elections to be held on 19th September 2010 are conducted in a peaceful atmosphere which secures people's free participation. Guinea has twice postponed its elections since last year. Media reports reaching FEMNET indicate that confrontations between supporters of the two main political parties turned violent on September 11th 2010.

One person is reported to have died in the violence and many were injured. We call on the two main candidates in the elections and the party leaders to seriously tackle all elements that are a threat to a peaceful election. They have to put in place practical measures at party level to guard against all forms of election violence and respect the right of the people of Guinea to a free and fair election of their leader. FEMNET also calls on the African Union to support the September 19th elections in Guinea and ensure that this time round the elections are not postponed, and are held peacefully. In doing so the AU will demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that its member states adhere to the democratic principles and practices that safeguard the rights of the people to vote for their leaders through peaceful electoral processes as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and other international human rights instruments.

The Guinea elections come at the time when the world is commemorating two very important days; the International Day of Democracy on the 15th September and the Peace Day on 21st September 2010. Peaceful elections are a prerequisite for building strong democracies and upholding the rights of all citizens to participate equally and fairly in the democratic process. FEMNET is concerned that violence and intimidation will disenfranchise many people in Guinea particularly women voters. Guinea let this Year of Peace 2010 usher in a new beginning. For more information, please contact: Norah Matovu-Winyi Executive Director FEMNET Tel 254 20 2712971/2 Email: Email: [email][email protected] Background
The Republic of Guinea goes to elections on 19th September 2010. The two main candidates are Alpha CONDE- Rally of the Guinean People Rassemblement du Peuple Guinéen (RPG) and Cellou Dalein DIALLO-Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea Union des forces democratiques de Guinee (UFDG). Currently Sekoumba KONATE is the interim leader. He replaced Moussa Dadis CAMARA following the attempted assassination of CAMARA on 3 December 2009.