2010 Guinean presidential election

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Guinean presidential election, 2010
← 2003 27 June and 7 November 2010
 
Nominee Alpha Condé Cellou Dalein Diallo
Party RPG UFDG
Popular vote 1,474,973 1,333,666
Percentage 52.52% 47.48%
President before election

Sékouba Konaté (acting)
Nonpartisan

President-elect

Alpha Condé
RPG

Politics of Guinea
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations

A presidential election in Guinea was held under the two-round system: the first round on 27 June 2010, and the second round, originally scheduled for 7 November,[1][2][3][4] after an initial date of 18 July and many other postponements. Alpha Condé has been provisionally declared the winner, with 52.52% of the votes in the second round.[5][6][7]

The election came after a coup in 2008 and the attempted assassination of the junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara in December 2009. There were months of tension and unrest during the electoral process, in which the two main candidates represented the two largest ethnic groups in Guinea: the Fula (French: Peul;[8] Fula: Fulɓe) and the Maninka (Malinke).[6]

The election was the first free national election held in Guinea since it gained independence in 1958.

Background

The election was originally scheduled to held on 13 December 2009 (with a second round, if necessary, held on 27 December 2009) following the 2008 Guinean coup d'état.[9] Civilian and political groups later proposed to hold them in December after legislative elections in October 2009.[10] The government agreed in late March 2009 to set the election date for 13 and 27 December,[11] but it was then again delayed until 31 January 2010.[12]

While junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara had initially stated he would not run in the election, he declared on 16 April 2009 that he, like every citizen, had the right to stand in the election.[13] On 10 May 2009, however, he stated again that neither he nor any of the other officers involved would stand in the election.[14] Despite this vow, supporters of Camara held a rally in August 2009 to call for him to take off his uniform and run in the elections. The United States felt that he had to abstain from running to ensure a free and fair election.[15]

After Camara was shot in early December 2009 and Konaté took over as the country's leader, an agreement was reached on 16 January 2010 which stipulated that Camara would remain out of the country (where he had been treated for his gunshot wounds), that a transitional government would be formed and that presidential elections would be held within six months.[2]

The election was seen as a chance to change decades of authoritarian rule following independence,[16] as well as to bring stability and foreign investment.[17] This was also the first democratic election since independence in 1958.[18]

Candidates

Twenty-four candidates were approved to run in the election,[19][20][21] among them four former prime ministers. (Cellou Dalein Diallo, François Lonseny Fall, Lansana Kouyaté and Sidya Touré)

Alpha Condé (RPG)
Sidya Touré (UFR)
Cellou Dalein Diallo (UFDG)
Jean Marc Telliano (RDIG)
François Lounceny Fall (FUDEC)
Elhadj Mamadou Sylla (UDG)
Mamadou Diawara (PTS)
Ibrahima Kassory Fofana (GPT)
Bouna Keita (RGP)
Ibrahima Abe Sylla (NGR)
Boubacar Barry (PNR)
M'bemba Traoré (PDU)
Ousmane Kaba (PLUS)
Abraham Bouré (RGUD)
Ousmane Bah (UPR)
Saran Daraba Kaba (CDP)
Fodé Mohamed Soumah (GECI)
Boubacar Bah (ADPG)
Lansana Kouyaté (PEDN)
Mamadou Baadiko Bah (UFD)
Aboubacar Somparé (PUP)
Papa Koly Kouroumah (RDR)
Alpha Ibrahima Keïra (PR)
Joseph Bangoura (UDIG)

Runoff

For the run-off, at least twelve minor candidates (Francois Louceny Fall, Ousmane Kaba, Hadja Saran Daraba Kaba, Jean Marc Teliano, El Hadj Bouna Keita, Mamadou Diawara, Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, El Hadj Mamadou Sylla, Alpha Ibrahima Keira, M'Bemba Traore, Joseph Bangoura and Abraham Boure) voiced their support for Condé over the frontrunner.[22] However, Diallo gained the support of Touré, who came third.[23] Condé then also gained the support of fourth-placed Lansana Kouyaté.[24]

Controversy

As had been expected by observers, the run-off was delayed from 18 July to a later date.[25] The second round was then set for 14 August 2010.[3] On 9 August, less than a week before the runoff was to take place, the vote was delayed again, to 19 September.[4]

On 10 September, the president of the National Independent Electoral Commission (Ceni), Ben Sekou Sylla, and another official were convicted of vote-tampering during the first round of voting. The two were sentenced to "one year in prison and a fine of two million Guinea francs [$350] each for electoral fraud."[26] Sylla died in a Paris hospital on 14 September following a long illness, and the odds of holding the election on time were very low as tensions rose in the country. Boubacar Diallo, the commission's director of planning, said "It is highly improbable that the election will be held this Sunday. It is a purely technical problem."[27]

The Independent National Electoral Commission said a decision to postpone the election between Jean-Marie Dore, the interim prime minister, and the two candidates, Cellou Dalein Diallo and Alpha Condé, was made because they needed "two weeks to prepare well." They blamed a lack of necessary voting equipment, saying it could take up to two weeks for arrangements to be in place, and that a new date was yet to be decided.[28] The dates of 10 October, and then 24 October, were proposed for the second round,[29] but on 22 October the vote was put off indefinitely.[30]

Siaka Sangare, the new head of the election commission, set 7 November as the new date for the second round of the election "after wide consultation with the different parties in the transition. It is a date that has been agreed upon, cannot be changed, and, dare I say it, I think will be the last one set for this election that the Guinean people are waiting for so much." He added that the election had previously been postponsed so as to allow political parties to call for calm following violence.[31]

Violence

In the week before the second round of voting, at least 24 people were injured in clashes when supporters of Cellou Dalein Diallo and Alpha Condé threw rocks at each other after a campaign rally. The incident occurred in several parts of Conakry, marking a sign of escalating tension ahead of the vote. Brawls were also reported near Conde's home, as well as near his Rally of the Guinean People party headquarters in Hamdallaye. The following day rioting continued killing at least one person and injuring 50.[16] 170 people were arrested following clashes between Diallo's supporters and police.[32]

Results

The final result of the first round were announced on 20 July 2010 after confirmation by the Supreme Court, which annulled about one-third of the votes originally cast.[33] While differing significantly from the earlier provisional results, they confirmed a runoff between Cellou Dalein Diallo and Alpha Condé, with Diallo winning 43.69% against Condé's 18.25% and Sidya Touré's 13.02%.[33][34]

A big turnout was reported for the second round.[35] Early results (from counting in the districts) for the second round indicated a close race,[36] with final results due when all ballots were brought to Conakry for counting.[37] The National Independent Election Commission (CENI) announced the preliminary results on the evening of 15 November, with Condé the winner with 52.52% of the vote on a 67.87% turnout.[5][6] Earlier in the day, both candidates claimed victory, with Diallo saying that he would not accept the CENI's provisional results until his complaints of election irregularities had been investigated.[33] Template:Guinean presidential election, 2010

Aftermath

After Conde preliminarily declared the winner some members of the Fula ethnic group (which largely backed Diallo) rioted, barricading roads and destroyed homes and businesses of some Malinkes (which tended to back Conde).

On November 18, the military declared a state of emergency. Nouhou Thiam, the armed forces chief, read the decree on state television which prohibited civilians from congregating in the streets, while only the military and security personnel would have unrestricted movement. He said the decree would be enforced until the Supreme Court declares certifies final results, which was to occur before November 24.[38]

Analysis

Voting along ethnic lines had been expected to hurt Diallo.[37]

References

  1. ^ "Election date for Guinea proposed". afrol. 22 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Guinea to hold presidential elections in six months". Xinhua News Agency. 16 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Guinea may hold presidential runoff in mid-August". People's Daily Online. 28 July 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Guinea sets date for presidential run-off vote". BBC News Online. 9 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Guinée : Condé déclaré vainqueur de l'élection présidentielle", Le Monde, 15 November 2010
  6. ^ a b c Alpha Conde declared winner in Guinea president polls, BBC News, 15 November 2010
  7. ^ "Conde declared winner in second round run-off | RFI". 2009-07-06. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  8. ^ In reporting on the elections, some major English language press organizations like the New York Times and BBC have tended to use the French word "Peul" for this ethnic group rather than the English "Fula" or "Fulani."
  9. ^ "Guinea junta pledges 2009 polls". BBC News Online. 5 January 2009.
  10. ^ "Guinean election dates proposed". BBC News Online. 13 March 2009.
  11. ^ "Guinea 2009 election agreed". The Times. 31 March 2009.
  12. ^ "Guinea party backs junta leader for president". Agence France-Presse. 19 September 2009.
  13. ^ "Guinea coup head could fight poll". BBC News Online. 16 April 2009.
  14. ^ "Guinea coup leader will not stand". BBC News Online. 10 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Guinea's Junta Leaders React to Pressure Not to Stand in Next Year's Elections". Voice of America. 24 August 2009.
  16. ^ a b Guinea halts poll rally amid chaos - Africa. Al Jazeera English (2010-09-12). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  17. ^ IRIN Africa | GUINEA: Election raises hope for change | Guinea | Aid Policy | Conflict | Economy | Governance | Health & Nutrition. Irinnews.org. Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  18. ^ "Can Guineans grab hold of democracy?". BBC News. 4 November 2010.
  19. ^ "Présidentielle en Guinée : 24 candidats pour un fauteuil". Afrik (in French). 26 May 2010.
  20. ^ "Guinea: 24 candidates validated for Guinea's presidential election". Afrique en ligne. 26 May 2010.
  21. ^ "Two dozen candidates – and no soldiers – in Guinea's presidential poll". France 24. 26 May 2010.
  22. ^ "Alpha Conde gets support in Guinea's presidential run-off". People's Daily Online. 16 July 2010.
  23. ^ "Diallo Forms Alliance for Guinea Presidential Run-Off". Voice of America. 29 July 2010.
  24. ^ "Guinea ex-PM throws behind Conde in presidential run-off". People's Daily Online. 3 August 2010.
  25. ^ "Guinea's presidential run-off delayed over fraud claims". BBC News Online. 9 July 2010.
  26. ^ Guinea poll chief guilty of fraud - Africa. Al Jazeera English (2010-09-10). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  27. ^ Doubts cloud Guinea runoff election - Africa. Al Jazeera English (2010-09-14). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  28. ^ Guinea presidential polls postponed - Africa. Al Jazeera English (2010-09-16). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  29. ^ Guinea election body proposes October 10 run-off | World | Reuters. Af.reuters.com (2010-09-22). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  30. ^ Guinea run-off election date set - Africa. Al Jazeera English (2010-10-05). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  31. ^ Guinea run-off election date set - Africa. Al Jazeera English (2010-10-28). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  32. ^ PressTV - 170 arrested ahead of run-off in Guinea. Presstv.ir (2010-10-21). Retrieved on 2010-11-08.
  33. ^ a b c "Les deux candidats revendiquent leur victoire à la présidentielle guinéenne", Libération, 15 November 2010
  34. ^ "Résultats définitifs du 1er tour de l'élection présidentielle du 27 juin 2010". Guinean National Independent Electoral Commission (in French). 20 July 2010.
  35. ^ "Guinea sees big turnout in presidential run-off poll". BBC. 2010-11-07. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  36. ^ "Early Returns Show Close Race in Guinea Presidential Election". Voanews.com. 2010-11-09. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  37. ^ a b Guinea delays election results
  38. ^ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/11/20101117162343752522.html

External links

  • Official site of the Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI)
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