Guinea: Prime Minister Youla resigns May 17 /update 3

Event

On Thursday, May 17, Prime Minister Mamady Youla submitted his resignation, along with the rest of his cabinet, to President Alpha Condé. According to the president’s office, Youla’s resignation was accepted and the outgoing government will remain in office until a new government is formed. Previously, on Wednesday, May 16, opposition leader Celou Dalein Diallo announced that protests against the results of the February elections will be suspended. Diallo said that opposition leaders have agreed to talks with Condé’s government that are mediated by members of the international community.

Context

During talks in March, President Condé promised a major cabinet reshuffle. Opposition members claim that massive electoral fraud was carried out by the ruling party during the February 4 elections. The local elections were a victory for President Condé's Rally of the Guinean People (RPG), which won the majority of votes and was followed 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), in the vote tally. Although the RPG dominated nationwide, the party lost control of the municipal government of Conakry, a major blow given that the capital city is home to almost a quarter of the country's population.

Advice

Individuals in Guinea, particularly 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.