Kenneth Wollock, the President of NDI, , expressed his organization’s congratulations to and support for President Condé and their commitment to promoting the development of a strong and vibrant democracy in Guinea. President Condé was soon ushered into the room by secret service personnel, and immediately began addressing the room.

In his address, President Condé began by revisiting the particularities of the 2010 presidential elections in minute detail. Troubles at the CENI, the issuance of multiple voter cards per individual, and the issuance of voter cards to minors were all among Condé’s talking points – as well as details of feuds among political parties and factions within the CENI. He averred that the first round of elections in 2010 was plagued by serious irregularities, argued that the second round was better but far from perfect, and went on to guarantee that his administration would do everything in its power to avoid such problems in Guinea’s upcoming legislative elections.  He also used this occasion to counter arguments in the press that his government is composed only of members of one ethnic group, noting for instance that while he might have several “Fofanas,” there can be Fofanas and others that come from Lower Guinea and the Forest in addition to Upper Guinea, where he is from. His argument singled out the absence of names from Guinea’s largest ethnic group, the Fulani, which he stated were the most different group in Guinea. Given that last year’s elections were marred by violent ethnic clashes and regionalist politics and that these tensions continue to worsen and plague the country, there is concern that these remarks do not serve the cause of national reconciliation.

Glaringly absent from his address was any vision or program for the development of the country now that he is president.

Following his opening remarks, the president opened the floor for questions, and humorously added that there would be “no taboo questions” for him. Members of the audience took him up on this offer in posing a variety of solid questions. The first, asked by Binta Terrier and Ourouro Bah, covered two popular concerns in Guinea’s public discourse: the appointment of ministers and soldiers (Pivi Coplan and Thiegboro) who served under previous administrations and are accused of being implicated in serious acts of corruption and human rights violations, and the suggestion that the attacks against President Condé’s residence  should possibly be investigated by an independent commission supported by the International Contact Group for Guinea given the country’s past history with fabricated plots to overthrow the government as justification for crackdowns on opposition.

President Condé took a defensive stance in his responses, stating that he never appointed Pivi and Thiegboro to any post in his government (but that as a civilian he had to appease the outgoing acting president, General Sekouba Konate), and that the only minister that he retained from a previous administration was his current finance minister, Kerfalla Yansane, who was in attendance at the event.

President Conde also said with conviction, and repeated later, that he is a “head of state, not head of a human rights organization.” Later, in her closing statement, Jennifer Cooke of CSIS addressed the president with her hopes that “as head of state you will come to see yourself as head of the ultimate human rights organization.” These remarks were met with by far the most enthusiastic applause of the event.

In response to the question about a possible independent, international investigation into the attacks on his residence, President Conde responded with indignation that any Guinean who would suggest such a thing is no patriot and has no respect for the country’s sovereignty.  Again in her closing remarks, Ms. Cooke, the CSIS’s head for Africa, suggested that given the tensions and mistrust currently seen in the country, the president might consider certain tools at his disposal such as an independent investigation as a means to communicate that he understands the concerns and is working to increase trust.

Among other questions asked, two of them focused on the president’s plans to ensure that the legislative elections are free and fair and facilicate open campaigning for all candidates across the country (asked by Alliance Guinea’s own Mohamed Touré), and Nimatoulaye Conté’s concerns about the much-needed inclusion of women and youth in Guinea’s political life. “We will put all our resources to use to organize the legislative elections before the end of the year,” asserted President Condé.” He went on: “we will avoid a repeat of last year’s elections by issuing securitized voter cards and holding a new census in order to prevent children of 14 years of age from voting, and individuals with multiple voter cards from voting multiple times.” Condé took on a stern tone in tackling the issue of gender equality in his government, mentioning several times that won his the elections with the support of a coalition, and that he must satisfy the demands of his alliance. He did not address strategies to improve dialogue with the opposition or ensure safe and open campaigning.

In sum, from Alliance Guinea’s perspective, President Conde missed the opportunity at this event to present before its distinguished audience his vision for a new Guinea. He said nothing about how he plans to reconcile the country after terribly divisive presidential elections and a history of state crimes against its citizens; he said nothing about his overarching plan for Guinea’s sustainable development. He did not make any assurances that recent restrictions to freedom of expression would not be repeated nor did he address concerns of security for opposition party members and others in the country who might disagree with him.  Much more remains to be seen if and how this traditional opposition party leader will remember all that he fought for over the past several decades and how he will now work to serve as leader of all Guineans.

Alliance Guinea Report on President Condé’s Presentation to NDI is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Restore immediately the freedoms of press and expression in Guinea is a post from: Alliance Guinea

***********

Alliance Guinea est profondément attristée par les nouvelles d’une tentative sur la vie du Président Alpha Condé et l’attaque sur la résidence de sa famille. Nous condamnons l’usage de la violence, ce qui risque de compromettre le progrès historique vers la démocratieaquis depuis l’année dernière en Guinée. Plus de détails sur cette attaque va certainement émerger dans les prochains jours et nous appelons à tous les guinéens et à la communauté internationale de suspendre tout jugement prématuré. Alliance Guinea se rejoint à tous ceux qui se soucient de l’avenir de la Guinée en exprimant l’espoir ardent que ces événements n’entraveront pas le progrès vers une gouvernance démocratique et pacifique dans le pays.

Statement on the attack against President Conde/ Declaration sur l’attaque contre le president Conde is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Mouvement Social Guinéen
(CNOSCG-INTER CENTRALE-INTER SYNDICALE-CPEG)
DECLARATION N°2

La République de Guinée, par l’élection réussie du 7 Novembre 2010 sanctionnée par des résultats acceptés, vient de franchir une étape décisive de son retour à l’ordre constitutionnel.

C’est le fruit d’un combat au prix de lourds sacrifices humains et matériels, mené par le peuple tout entier à travers le mouvement social et la classe politique guinéenne pour un changement profond dans la gouvernance démocratique et politique de notre pays.

Pour mémoire, le Mouvement Social Guinéen (Inter-centrale Syndicale, CNOSCG, CPEG) dans ces étapes difficiles et décisives a:
- Conduit les grèves de décembre 2005, juin 2006, et mené les mouvements de protestation de janvier et février 2007 ;

- Contribué à la naissance, à la structuration et au fonctionnement du Forum des Forces Vives qui a consacré l’union du Mouvement Social et de la classe politique pour le combat en vue de l’instauration de la démocratie en Guinée.

Aujourd’hui, le Mouvement Social Guinéen constate avec satisfaction l’installation du premier Président démocratiquement élu du pays et suit avec intérêt ses premières actions entamées par la formation du gouvernement.

A l’heure des premiers pas de ce gouvernement, il apparait pour le Mouvement Social Guinéen, que :
- Aucun acte concret visant à ressouder le tissu social fortement ébranlé par les récentes joutes politiques n’a été observé à ce jour ;
- Aucune déclaration forte ou engagement n’ont été entendus montrant un souci de mener rapidement le processus électoral à son achèvement: élections législatives, communales, communautaires et locales ;
- Le discours d’orientation du gouvernement déclinant les actions de mise en oeuvre du programme du candidat élu se fait attendre ;
- Aucune action vigoureuse en adéquation avec la situation économique catastrophique n’a été annoncée à ce jour, notamment face à la dégradation vertigineuse de la monnaie, la flambée des prix, la faiblesse du pouvoir d’achat ;
- Les multiples troubles sociaux constatés à l’intérieur du pays notamment à Boké, Fria et Beyla montrent une fragilité de la situation sociale;
- La persistance et la prolifération des barrages routiers accentuent les tracasseries, les brutalités et les abus ;
L’absence de ces mesures de nature à mobiliser les citoyens dans l’objectif du changement profond attendu, constitue une inquiétude quant aux priorités définies face à l’état de délabrement avancé du pays.

A cet effet, le Mouvement Social Guinéen propose aux nouvelles autorités :
- La mise en place immédiate d’un programme inclusif de réconciliation nationale, basé sur la création de la « Commission Vérité, Justice et Réconciliation » annoncée par le
chef de l’Etat, impliquant les acteurs majeurs de la nation ;
- La restructuration profonde de la CENI ;
- La publication rapide d’un chronogramme précis sur le parachèvement des échéances
électorales (législatives, communales, communautaires, locales) ;
- La gestion des troubles sociaux basée sur la volonté de rompre avec les brutalités passées des forces de l’ordre ;
- La suppression immédiate des barrages routiers sur toute l’étendue du territoire national ;
- La conduite résolue du processus de réforme profonde des Forces de Défense et de Sécurité, avec une poursuite dynamique du casernement des militaires.
Pour mener à bien ces actions, avec l’adhésion de l’ensemble des populations, le Mouvement Social Guinéen recommande :
- Une action constante de préservation de la paix, de la cohésion et de l’unité nationale.
- La refondation de l’Etat par une application scrupuleuse des dispositions de la constitution relatives à la nomination des hauts cadres de l’administration centrale et territoriale ;
- L’organisation transparente, dans les délais prescrits par la constitution des élections législatives, communales, communautaires et locales.

Le Mouvement Social Guinéen, comme force de propositions, a élaboré un « cahier de propositions citoyennes » à l’attention de Monsieur le Président de la République.

Les acteurs du Mouvement Social Guinéen attachent du prix à la prise en compte de ces propositions dont la mise en oeuvre permettra de donner l’espoir aux citoyens et d’instaurer
la confiance entre l’Etat et les populations en vue d’engager un développement durable dans la cohésion et la paix.

ENSEMBLE MOBILISONS NOUS POUR LE CHANGEMENT DANS LA PAIX ;
Kindia le 23 Janvier 2011

Communiqué from the Mouvement Social Guinéen is a post from: Alliance Guinea

In NY: Guineans vote and Alliance Guinea provides neutrality and a way for ordinary citizens to monitor their own elections (The New York Times) is a post from: Alliance Guinea

La Mission permanente de la République de Guinée auprès des Nations Unies a le regret de porter a la connaissance des membres de la communauté guineenne de New York et alentours et des Partis politiques que l’adresse des bureaux de vote préalablement communiquée pour la tenue du deuxième tour du scrutin présidentiel prévu le 7 novembre 2010 a été changée a cause du marathon de New York qui se déroulera le même jour et qui passera devant l’école qui avait été retenue a cet effet.

La nouvelle adresse est la suivante:

P.S.136
6 Edgecombe Avenue (Harlem)
New York, NY 10030

L’etablissement est situe sur la 135th street et Saint Nicholas a cote de la bouche de metro B et C.
Les opérations de vote débuteront a 7h00 et prendront fin a 18h00.

La Mission permanente présente toutes ses excuses pour ce changement de dernière minute indépendant de sa volonté et invite les Partis politiques, les Associations communautaires et  les organes de presse a procéder a une large diffusion de la présente information. Elle sait compter sur le civisme et l’esprit de responsabilité de chacun et de tous afin que le vote se déroule dans les meilleures conditions.

New York, le 3 novembre 2010
PO/ L’Ambassadeur Représentant permanent
Le Consul
Almamy Babara TOURE

Important: Change of venue for Guineans voting in New York City is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Sunday 11/7 is E-DAY!! Guinea Election Monitoring from New York City and Beyond! is a post from: Alliance Guinea

New York, NY & Conakry, Guinea, October 18, 2010 – Following months of uncertainty around the historic presidential election run-offs in Guinea and the long-awaited announcement of the new election date of October 24, volunteer groups are re-launching the citizen election monitoring system Guinea Vote 2010 (“GV10”) Witness using SMS- and web-based Ushahidi technology to track reports in real-time from people across the country.

When the system was first introduced in Guinea in June, over 17,000 SMS messages were received before, during, and after the first round of the country’s first democratic presidential elections.  Given the volatility surrounding the runoff contest including violence that left one person dead and many injured in the capital city of Conakry last month, the GV10 Witness system will fulfill an urgent need to report problems as they arise as well as contribute to the transparency of the elections. Using “Ushahidi” technology first developed in Kenya and since used all around the world, election observers and ordinary citizens will be able to text in electoral incidents with their cell phones and Guinean authorities and national and international media will be able monitor these developments as they happen and are reported on the website www.GV10Witness.org (or www.GV10Témoin.org in French).

Working closely with the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and key non-governmental groups including the National Council of Civil Society Organizations of Guinea (CNOSCG), the NGO Alliance Guinea is again leading the GV10 Witness initiative through its members in the United States, Guinea, and around the world who facilitate the GV10 system. In a rare showing of collective engagement, all of the Guinean mobile telecommunications companies are providing a single special code for citizen observers to text in reports at reduced rates. After the challenges of the first round of voting, the key GV10 collaborators will work more closely to provide as many verified reports as possible during the runoffs.

“With as volatile as the runoff preparation has been in Guinea and given how critical these elections are to the country’s transition to civilian rule and future development, it is all the more critical now that Guineans have a positive, constructive way of participating in this process,” said Alliance Guinea co-founder Jennifer Swift-Morgan.  “GV10 Witness provides a unique opportunity to do this, also serving to deter people who might otherwise manipulate the vote.  This system will go a long way in increasing the credibility of the elections at a time when many have otherwise begun to lose faith.”

“We saw the GV10 system revolutionize citizen participation in election monitoring during the first round of elections in Guinea,” asserts Aziz Diop, Executive Secretary of CNOSCG.  “Now nearly everyone has heard of the quick number they can text to if they are a witness to something that could have an effect on the elections. We are thrilled about our partnership with Alliance Guinea and of the participation of the CNOSCG’s own corps of election observers in GV10 to increase the volume of trustworthy reports.  Guinea clearly needs this capability now more than ever before, during and after the run-offs.”

If the election date of October 24 holds or not – and ongoing crises regarding the leadership of the National Independent Electoral Commission has again put this in question – the GV10 Witness system will serve as a tool to track election-related incidents such as violence and election fraud. It will also elicit commentary and information related to campaign events and voter turnout. Citizens and observers can send messages via SMS, email, and Twitter into the GV10 Witness platform and Alliance Guinea volunteers around the world will then filter and map these messages at GV10Witness.org.  People monitoring the elections – whether election administrators and observers, international media, civil society organizations or the general public – will then be able to follow developments on the website or through email updates.

To send a report to GV10 Witness, any citizen or trained observer can email rapport@gv10temoin.org; tweet using the hashtags #guinee, #guineavotereport, or #guineaelections; or file a report using the short form at www.GV10Temoin.org. People in Guinea will also be able to text in messages to 8008. Alliance Guinea has also developed a GV10 map widget available at www.allianceguinea.org for anyone to follow the reports in real time from one’s own website or blog.

###

For more information, contact:

Alliance Guinea, Conakry, Guinea: Ousmane Bah, tel: +224 68 43 98 39

Alliance Guinea, New York, USA: Jennifer Swift-Morgan at allianceguinea@gmail.com

www.allianceguinea.org

To volunteer with GV10, please fill out the form at http://bit.ly/GV10Help.

High-tech citizen monitoring system relaunches for historic and volatile presidential runoff in Guinea is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Le 1er octobre 2010, la communauté guinéenne de Lille s’est réunie en assemblée générale pour se souvenir des massacres du 28 septembre 2009.

La jeunesse guinéenne, nombreuse lors de cette assemblée, a souligné, à travers différentes prises de paroles :

- qu’elle est consciente de la situation grave que traverse notre pays
- qu’elle est consciente de sa responsabilité et de la nécessité d’agir
- qu’elle ne veut plus que la jeunesse guinéenne soit tuée comme des chiens errants.
- qu’elle est fermement attachée au respect de la qualité de guinéen (citoyenneté)
- qu’elle va s’opposer avec la dernière énergie l’ethnocentrisme et à la violence
- qu’elle demande à tous les guinéens d’agir au quotidien pour une guinée unie et démocratique

Il a été souligné que la mise en marche de cette dynamique par l’identification lucide des responsables de la tournure ethnocentrique qu’ont pris les événements en guinée.

Pourquoi ces tensions ethnocentriques dans notre cher pays ? La responsabilité des leaders politiques et de l’administration est réelle, mais il a été souligné qu’il ne faut perdre de vue le rôle des médias notamment les sites internets.

Les sites internets sont sensés participer à l’effectivité du droit à l’information, mais surtout du droit à la liberté de penser et à la liberté d’opinions politiques. Mais à quoi nous avons assisté? A une prolifération de sites de propagande dont la caractéristique dominante est de ne respecter aucune déontologie journalistique..

Ces sites publient des articles ethnocentriques et haineux qui participent fortement à la tension ethnique qu’on connait aujourd’hui en Guinée. La Haute Autorité de la Communication dont l’une des missions est de s’assurer que les médiats respectent la loi ne fait absolument rien. Les articles publiés dans ces sites violent tous les jours l’esprit de notre constitution, insultent des citoyens guinéens sans être inquiétés. Cet esprit est que notre identité première est la citoyenneté guinéenne et non notre origine ethnique.

Pour finir, il a été demandé aux citoyens guinéens que nous sommes de boycotter ces sites et de trouver les moyens de les poursuivre devant la justice française ou guinéenne. Le but n’est pas forcement de gagner mais de montrer symboliquement que majeure partie des guinéens sont attachées à une nation unie et respectueuse de toutes ses composantes. Pour mener la guerre aux intoxcicateurs un moyen simple : les surveiller et répertorier les articles ethnocentriques de ces sites. C’est travail que tout guinéen peut faire. Donc, la communauté compte sur tout un chacun pour qu’on répertorie dix articles et qu’on porte plainte.

Permettez-moi, avant de terminer, de suggérer qu’on médite sur cette citation de Frantz Fanon : « Chaque génération doit dans une relative opacité découvrir sa mission, la remplir ou la trahir »

Vive une guinée républicaine et démocratique.

– Mamadou Barry, Alliance Guinea

Stop those promoting hatred: A call from the Guinean community of Lille, France is a post from: Alliance Guinea

Good evening ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, allow me to thank alliance Guinea and Columbia University for hosting this evening conference.

One year ago today, thousands of people gathered in a stadium in Conakry-Guinea for a peaceful demonstration for democracy and human rights. Unfortunately, troops led by the presidential guards killed more than 150, injured more than 1200 and raped dozens of women on a broad daylight.

As a result of the massacre, the international community intensified pressure on the military junta. According to primary investigations from the International Criminal Court, and Human Rights Watch, these atrocities amounted to the level of crime against humanity and war crime. That led to open path for eventual indictment and trials at The Hague. Blame game started and went on among junta members, and went on for months.

On December 3, 2009, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara was shot and wounded by his own aid de camp, the chief of the presidential guard. The junta chief is evacuated to Morocco for treatment.

Thanks to efforts from the international community, another military officer was picked to replace the young captain. His name: General Sekouba Konaté, the defense minister and # 2 of the CNDD.

On January 15, 2010, an agreement was signed in Ouagadougou (capital of Burkina Faso) between the two military leaders. In addition to power take over, transitional institutions must be put in place (CNDD, NTC, NUTG, INEC…), free and fair elections must be held within 6 months, no candidacy from military and civilian officials of the transition, reforms undertaken in the army…

From January to June 2010, we adopted new constitution, new electoral law, new press freedom, new communication regulation authority, launched reconciliation and unity process and held first round of the presidential election.

On June 27, 2010, Guineans went to the polls to cast their ballots for what is known as the first democratic, free and fair election in 52 years since the country’s independence. Among 24 presidential candidates, two got their tickets for the second round.

Cellou Dalein Diallo (UFDG) came first with 43 percent followed by Alpha Conde (of RPG) with 18 percent. Guinea’s constitution says you must secure at least 51 percent of the votes to be elected president in the first round.

The second round was to take place on September 19. On September 3, the two candidates signed an agreement for a peaceful campaign and peaceful election. But, one week after, violence erupted between supporters of the two candidates. One person was killed, dozens of injured and many damaged cars.

And 4 days before the due day, the Independent national electoral commission called it off, citing technical and logistic reasons. As we speak today, 3 months after the first round of the presidential election, Guineans are waiting to go back to the polls to elect their president and by doing so allow the return of civilian power after 26 years of military rule.

Trough out this electoral process, the international community has been very active providing technical, logistic, and financial assistance to Guinea. The International Contact Group on Guinea (UN, EU, AU, ECOWAS, US, France…) is holding monthly meetings in Conakry to monitor the situation.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me now tell you that holding peaceful, free and fair elections is essential-vital I would say to re-establishing constitutional order in Guinea, and allowing the reign of civilian rule.

And I believe that we need to organize the second round as soon as realistically possible, I mean within the shortest realistic timeframe. In doing so we must meet the essential and necessary conditions for it to be peaceful, free and fair.

Therefore, I call on you and beg you to both individually and collectively work to achieve that goal. Everything you do, anything you say, all of your efforts and actions must be, should be and have to guarantee peaceful, free and fair elections for the good of the people-for indeed YOUR GOOD.

Please understand that beyond political parties there is OUR COUNTRY. Beyond ethnic groups there is OUR NATION. Beyond this transitional period there is OUR COMMON FUTURE. Beyond personal and or particular agendas there is the INTEREST of OUR MOTHERLAND.

This not, should not and must not be about political fights, or ethnic rivalry or personal gain. This is, should and must be about DEMOCRACY, and FREEDOM, and EQUALITY, and PROSPERITY for OUR COUNTRY.

So, allow me to close by asking YOU: let us not forget our beloved ones who lost their lives for these values to take place in Guinea. Let us carry in our hearts, and minds and souls their memory. They are OUR HEROS.

Ladies and gentlemen, in looking and moving forward, I believe that the only and unique way, the BEST WAY to succeed is to be UNITED as ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION and stand for THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY.

Thank you so much for your attention.

Abdoulaye Diallo

Member of National Transitional Council

A call for unity: Youngest CNT member’s speech on the anniversary of September 28 is a post from: Alliance Guinea