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ECOWAS Calls for Peace in Guinea

   Peter Clottey 17 November 2010

   A  top  official  of  the  Economic  Community  of West African States
   (ECOWAS)  said  the  West  African regional bloc will continue to work
   with  political  leaders in Guinea to ensure peace and stability ahead
   of  a  Supreme  Court  ruling  to  certify  the results of last weekâs
   presidential run-off vote.

   Sonny  Ugoh,  communications  director  for  ECOWAS said supporters of
   President-elect Alpha Conde and challenger Cellou Dalein Diallo should
   desist from engaging in violence that could destabilize the country.

   âItâs  important  for  all the parties in Guinea, particularly the two
   parties  that  went  for  the  run-off  to keep their supporters under
   check.  They  have  the  greater  responsibility to maintain peace and
   security in that country. It is only under that kind of atmosphere, of
   course,  that you can talk about democracy, which is what we have been
   anxious to return to that country.â

   This  came  after  Guinea's  military  government  declared a state of
   emergency,  as  violence sparked by the disputed presidential election
   continued.

   Army  Chief  Nouhou  Thiam  said  in a nationwide television broadcast
   Wednesday  that  the  state  of  emergency will remain in effect until
   Guinea's Supreme Court verifies the election results.

   ECOWAS  official  Ugoh  said the regional bloc is working closely with
   the  political  leadership to ensure a stable Guinea in that countryâs
   journey towards constitutional rule.

   âBy  imposing  the curfew, we believe that the military junta there is
   trying  to  make  sure  that  whatever  it  is  of  the outcome of the
   election, the reaction the two parties particularly the party that was
   not  declared  the  winner will put a lid on things so that it doesnât
   get out of hands,â said Ugoh.

   âWe  are  watching  the situation very keenly. We have an office there
   through  which  we  are  engaging  with  the various stakeholders, the
   leaders  of  the  political  parties  and  the junta to make sure that
   things donât get out of hand.â

   Army  Chief  Thiam  said  âtroublemakersâ  were deliberately attacking
   security forces and civilians.

   Officials  say  the  decree  prohibits any public gatherings and gives
   police extra powers to tackle the situation.
   Guineaâs electoral law gives the Supreme Court until 23^rd November to
   confirm the results.
   Mr.  Diallo  is  asking  the  Supreme  Court  to  annul votes from two
   districts  where he said thousands of members of his ethnic group were
   driven from their homes in pre-election violence. If those results are
   thrown out, Mr. Diallo would end up with more votes than Mr. Conde.

   The  presidential  election  was  considered Guinea's first democratic
   vote after more than 50 years of dictatorship and military control.

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