Guineans are voting to choose a new president as incumbent Alpha Conde seeks a third term in office.
His decision to seek a third term has been controversial after the constitution was amended in a referendum to grant him the opportunity to run again.
Conde’s main challenger in Sunday’s election is Cellou Dalein Diallo of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG).
Diallo, 68 is a former prime minister who lost to Mr Condé in both 2010 and 2015 elections.
The country’s Independent National Electoral Commission said 12 candidates, including two women, are vying for the presidency in Sunday’s vote.
Should no winner emerge after the first round of voting by securing more than 50% of the total votes, there would be a second round on November 24 to pick a winner.
There are some 5.4 million voters eligible to vote in Sunday’s election with results not expected for several days.
The UN secretary-general has called on ”all national stakeholders to ensure that the polls are conducted in an inclusive and peaceful manner.”
He also called ”on all political leaders and their supporters to refrain from acts of incitement, inflammatory language, ethnic profiling and violence.”
Ahead of Sunday’s presidential elections in #Guinea, the UN Secretary-General has urged all national stakeholders to ensure that the polls are conducted in an inclusive and peaceful manner.https://t.co/dqOrTS3YLh
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 18, 2020
Political atmosphere
There have been concerns about the political atmosphere in the country amid ethnic clashes during campaigns.
Tension has been high following the killing of a senior army officer in Guinea, Col Mamady Condé on Friday.
Col. Condé’s death came just two days before Sunday’s crucial presidential election.
Armed men shot Col Condé dead on Friday at a military camp in Kindia, 130km (80 miles) north-east of the capital, Conakry.
Ahead of Sunday’s crucial vote the country’s border with Senegal and Guinea-Bissau have also been closed.
Officials in government cited for security reasons for the closure of the borders.
Ivory Coast: Ouattara’s two main presidential rivals boycott poll
Source: Africafeeds.com
