Security Council urges leaders in Guinea to end poll differences peacefully

Members of the Security Council today deplored the violence that erupted in Guinea following the announcement of the results of the second round of presidential elections and urged political leaders in the West African country to refrain from actions likely to incite tensions.

Guinea’s Independent Electoral Commission on Monday declared Alpha Condé the winner of the run-off poll, which was held on 7 November. The other candidate was Cellou Dalein Diallo.

Council members were briefed in a closed-door meeting on the latest developments in Guinea by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit.

Members “took note” of the provisional results and appealed to all parties to follow the existing legal procedure to “resolve their differences peacefully,” Philip John Parham, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, told reporters after the meeting.

They also stressed the responsibility of Guinea’s security forces and government officials to maintain public order and to protect civilians, he added.

In addition, they welcomed the determination of Guinea’s interim leader, General Sékouba Konaté, to pursue peaceful elections, and encouraged him to continue the process until it is concluded in an inclusive manner.

The run-off poll followed the first round of the election in June. It was the final stage of the interim Government’s efforts to restore democracy after Captain Moussa Dadis Camara seized power in a coup in 2008 following the death of long-time president Lansana Conté.