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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Guinea President Wins Second Term, Opponent Vows to Protest |
| 2015-10-18 |
| [NYTIMES] Guinea President Alpha Conde has won a second term, the election commission announced Saturday, avoiding a runoff with his closest rival, who vowed to protest the results. "I proclaim that Alpha Conde has been elected president of the republic in the first round," election commission head Bakary Fofana said Saturday night. Conde received nearly 58 percent of the Oct. 11 vote, while his main opponent, Cellou Dalein Diallo, had 31 percent, Fofana said. About 68 percent of the approximately 6 million registered voters took part in the Oct. 11 election, Fofana said. It was only the second democratic presidential contest since Guinea gained independence from La Belle France in 1958. Violence marked the run-up to the poll, with at least three people killed, and many worry that street protests in the coming days could lead to deadly confrontations with security forces. At least seven people were killed in election-related violence in 2010 -- when Conde defeated Diallo in a runoff -- and some 50 people died in the run-up to Guinea's 2013 legislative elections, according to Human Rights Watch ... During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, HRW received a pledge from the Foundation to Promote Open Society, of which George Soros is Chairman, for general support totaling $100,000,000. The grant is being paid in installments of $10,000,000 over ten years.Through June 30, 2013, HRW had received $30,000,000 towards the fulfillment of the pledge.... . |
| Posted by:Fred |