Guinea: US Embassy in Conakry issues demonstration alert October 26 /update 7

Event

The US Embassy in Conakry issued a demonstration alert for continued anti-government unrest in Conakry and throughout Guinea on Monday, October 26. The embassy has warned that protests are expected to continue throughout the week. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) declared President Alpha Condé the winner of the Guinean presidential election on Saturday, October 24, with an absolute majority in the first round. The provisional results showed Condé winning 59.49 percent of the vote. The election has been surrounded by controversy, with concerns over the fairness of the election and Condé standing for a third consecutive term. 

Further electoral-related unrest is expected across Guinea in the coming days. A heightened security presence is to be expected in the vicinity of any demonstration.

Context

Condé, 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's candidate in the presidential election. Widespread unrest has been witnessed across the country since the controversial move by Condé, with opposition groups claiming that at least 90 people have been killed in protests since the beginning of the election campaign.

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.