Guinea: Ban presses for reconciliation and dialogue ahead of legislative polls

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Guinea to peacefully resolve all major political disputes to ensure that parliamentary elections scheduled for later this year in the West African country are free and fair.

In a meeting held yesterday on the margins of the high-level segment of the General Assembly, Mr. Ban and President Alpha Condé discussed the preparations for the forthcoming elections, expected to take place in December.

The two officials also discussed the measures being taken by Mr. Condé to promote national reconciliation and political dialogue in Guinea, which has been plagued by dictatorships, military rule and disputed elections since it gained independence in 1958.

In July, there was an unsuccessful attack by armed men on Mr. Condé’s residence in the capital, Conakry, where dozens of unarmed civilians were killed or raped by members of the security forces in a notorious incident in 2009.

“The Secretary-General urged the Guinean authorities to resolve peacefully any outstanding issues to ensure the holding of the peaceful and fair elections,” according to information provided by his spokesperson after the meeting.

Mr. Ban stressed the support of the United Nations to assist the Government in tackling some of Guinea’s biggest socio-economic challenges.

The UN Peacebuilding Commission, which has an active presence in Guinea, met yesterday in New York to adopt a joint strategy with the country aimed at fostering national reconciliation, security sector reform and job opportunities for women and young people.