Guinea: Protesters clash with police in Conakry October 23 /update 4

Event

Hundreds of opposition demonstrators - protesting alleged violations of a deal to swear in winners of the February 4 local elections - clashed with police in Conakry on Tuesday, October 23. The protesters reportedly attempted to block roads in the Cosa neighborhood during the banned demonstration and threw rocks at police officers, who fired teargas at the demonstrators in response.

Related protests are possible in Conakry in the coming days. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near protest sites; clashes between security forces and demonstrators cannot be ruled out.

Context

The demonstration was organized to protest the government of President Alpha Condé and the fact that officials elected in controversial local elections held February 4 have not yet been sworn in. Associated ville morte protests took place October 15-16, during which one protester was killed.

Condé's Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) won the majority of the votes in the February local elections, followed in the vote count by former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo's Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) and a second opposition party, the Union of Republican Forces (UFR). Although the RPG dominated nationwide, the party lost control of the municipal government of the capital Conakry, a major blow given that the city is home to almost a quarter of the country's population.

Advice

Individuals in Conakry are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all demonstrations and protests due to the risk of violence, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.