Page 27 - The Nile Explorer Magazine 011

said the disbanding of SARS was Guinea’s Alpha
Commenting on the protest, Buhari

“only the first step” in extensive police Conde, 82,
reform. “We will also ensure that all
those responsible for misconduct or
wrongful acts are brought to justice,” re-elected in
the president added, insisting that
women of the police force are hard- presidential President Alpha Conde of Guinea
“the vast majority of men and

working and diligent in performing poll
their duties.”

A new tactical police unit to be known fter widespread protests in the without the need for a second round
as the Special Weapons and Tactics Alead-up to the vote, Guinea of the elections.
(SWAT) team, has been created to carried out the first round of its A first-round victory for Cellou
“fill the gaps” left by the disbandment presidential election on Sunday, 18 Dalein Diallo would have been a
of SARS and will be trained by the October. The vote drew particularly major upset and rebuke for Alpha
International Committee of the international scrutiny due to the fact Condé, who has been criticized by
Red Cross; however, Nigerians are that 82-year-old incumbent Alpha the international community for
continue to demand more reforms Condé was among the 12 candidates being increasingly authoritarian
and protections against the police, on the ballot, having pushed through particularly, during his second term
including independent oversight. a controversial constitutional in office.

However, singer-songwriter Davvyd amendment in March allowing him Cellou Dalein Diallo, 68, an
economist and politician was
Moore, who has been joining the to stand for a third term. Prime Minister of Guoea from
Guinea’s President Alpha Conde
protests against SARS in Lagos, is won 59.49 percent of votes in a 2004 to 2006. Previously he held
quoted saying: “Any promises by the hotly contested election where he successive ministerial positions
government need to come with real sought a controversial third term. in the government from 1996 to
actions, as Nigeria has seen pledges His main rival, opposition politician 2004. Currently he is President of
of SARS reform before, to no avail”. Cellou Dalein Diallo — who had the Union of Democratic Forces
“It’s not going to stop us. That earlier claimed victory before the of Guinea (UFDG), an opposition
should be a motivation. Imagine publication of the results — received party.
a cause worth dying for. You see 33.5 percent of the vote, according to Much of the controversy in Guinea
people dying, and you know people the electoral authority. centers on a third term for Conde,
82, which he pushed through in
have died. And what we have started, Results announcement had, sparked March, under a new constitution
if we don’t finish it, that’s very street protests in opposition which he argued would modernize
cowardly. We won’t step back — not strongholds, with government the country. But it also allowed
cutting off the internet and
for a second. We will keep pushing international calls across Guinea, him to bypass a two-term limit for
further until the government gives to a tactic employed in most unstable presidents. Conde insists that a
us what we demand,” he said. democracies whenever the state is constitutional referendum reset his
As observers wait to see whether faced with protests and public unrest. two-term limit, but opponents’ have
anger will die off with time or Opposition candidate Diallo, termed illegal.
snowball into further protests as it Conde’s, said he has evidence of According to Amnesty International,
was seen in the US in May, only time fraud and plans to file a complaint protests on the day of the referendum
led to the death of at least 12
will tell. with the Constitutional Court.
Earlier indication by observers and protesters. The repression by security
After serving as a military dictator collaborated by local the NGO Stand services has brought back memories
in the 1980s, Buhari was elected for Life and Liberty, had indicated of the authoritarianism and military
president in 2015, and re-elected that, yhe former Prime Minister, rule which marred Guinea’s early
in 2019 in a decisive vote, which who heads the Union of Democratic history as an independent nation
seemed to reward him for fighting Forces of Guinea (Union des culminating in the brutal massacre
corruption and improving the Forces Démocratiques du Guinée, on 28 September 2009 in which at
economy. But Boko Haram remains commonly abbreviated UFDG) was least 160 opposition supporters were
a challenge. in the lead and would be elected killed by the security forces.

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