Guinea: Reports of clashes in Conakry after provisional election results indicate Conde ahead October 21 /update 4

Event

Clashes have been reported in Conakry on Wednesday, October 21, after provisional results were released indicating that incumbent President Alpha Conde is ahead in counting from Sunday's presidential election. According to the US Embassy in Conakry, protesters have started fires, burnt tires, and erected roadblocks throughout the capital. There are also reports of shots being fired in some neighborhoods, with one unconfirmed report of a police officer being killed on Prince's Road. There are also reports of police deploying tear gas to disperse protesters.

Hundreds of opposition supporters took to the streets of the capital on Monday evening after their presidential candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo claimed to have won the first round of voting held on Sunday, October 18. However, Diallo's claims of victory were dismissed as premature by both the government and the electoral commission, who stated that vote counting was still ongoing and that preliminary results were yet to be announced, and security forces moved to disperse celebratory crowds in several opposition-dominated areas of Conakry. Opposition groups claim that at least three of their supporters were killed during the protests. It is currently unclear where in the city the three opposition supporters were killed, but the most significant clashes were reported in the Miniere area of the capital, where security forces used tear gas and warning shots to disperse crowds. Gunfire was also reported in several other areas of the city throughout the night.

Further electoral-related unrest is expected across Guinea in the coming days as the official results of the election are awaited.

Context

President Alpha Conde, in power since 2010, pushed through a change in the constitution following a referendum in March that effectively reset the two-term limit in the constitution and allowed him to run as his party candidate in the presidential election. Widespread unrest has been witnessed across the country since the controversial move by Conde, with opposition groups claiming that at least 90 people have been killed in recent months.

Advice

Those in Guinea are advised to monitor the situation, remain vigilant due to the threat of electoral-related violence, avoid the vicinity of political gatherings and electoral commission offices, avoid discussing politically sensitive topics in public or on social media, and heed all directives issued by local authorities.