In wake of attack in Guinea, UN envoy presses for dialogue

A senior United Nations envoy today called on the President of Guinea to pursue dialogue with opposition political parties in the troubled West African nation in the wake of the unsuccessful attack on his residence on Tuesday.

Said Djinnit, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, met Alpha Condé in Conakry, the capital, where he reiterated the UN’s support to the democratic process in Guinea, which has suffered from decades of one-party rule or military regimes.

Mr. Condé escaped unharmed from Tuesday’s attack, which Mr. Djinnit condemned, echoing similar remarks earlier this week from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and from the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

He stressed the need for the President to pursue dialogue with all political parties, particularly in seeking a consensus over outstanding issues regarding the preparation of repeatedly delayed legislative elections, now slated to be held before the end of this year.

Mr. Condé took office after winning the run-off round of presidential elections late last year, capping off the interim Government’s efforts to restore democracy after a 2008 coup d’état.