After weeks of violent clashes, Guinea’s ruling party and opposition succeeded in drafting a framework which might allow the country to move forward with much-delayed legislative elections, according to the international mediator brought in to help bridge the chasm between the two sides. Said Djinnit, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, explained on Sunday that the opposition has agreed to rescind their boycott and will take part in the poll so long as 10 conditions are met. In return, the ruling party has agreed to delay the June date for the ballot. They have also agreed to allow Guineans living overseas to vote, a concession to the opposition since most expatriates have historically voted in favor of the opposition.
“The two sides were able to make significant advances,” Djinnit said on Sunday. “Before the dialogue started, consultations were carried out which involved everyone in order to create an unconditional dialogue, without any taboos,” he said.
Among the 10 conditions that the opposition has asked for is that the families of those who died in recent protests be compensated, and that an investigation is carried out into their deaths. Dozens of people, nearly all of them opposition supporters, have died in the violent demonstrations which have engulfed Guinea’s seaside capital in recent months over the vote.
Other conditions include that the country’s territorial administration remain neutral during the vote and that the government re-opens the electoral list for possible revisions. They are also asking that two independent experts be allowed to review the electoral list.
Full Article: Mediator: Guinea’s opposition may agree to election if conditions are met – The Washington Post.
