CONAKRY (Reuters) – Voters in Guinea go to the polls today in their first chance to freely elect their leadership since the coup-prone West African state won independence from France in 1958.
A smooth election would not only act as a potential trigger for the investment needed to exploit its vast mineral riches and revive its economy, but would boost pro-democracy movements in a region that has seen a string of coups and tainted elections.
Locals are still rubbing their eyes at events since an army massacre of pro-democracy marchers last Sept. 28 brought Guinea close to civil war. Weeks later, junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara was wounded in a gun attack by an aide and his Western-backed successor subsequently pledged to hand rule back to civilians.
“I am going to vote for a citizen who can help Guinea, not someone who will run Guinea like a shop for making money. That is all finished,” said fisherman Moussa Drame of a state which is the world’s top exporter of the aluminium ore bauxite but where a third of the population of 10 million live in poverty.
Sekouba Konate, the soldier who succeeded Camara as junta leader and who insists he has no interest in political power, told Guineans late yesterday they were at a turning point.
“I say to Guineans, it’s your choice: freedom, peace and democracy, or instability and violence,” he told reporters.
“It’s not just a question of electing one candidate, it’s a question of creating the conditions to realise our dreams.”
Six people were killed in clashes this week between rival political groups in the village of Coyah 50 km (30 miles) outside the capital, but it was the only major outbreak of violence for weeks.
Final rallies held by candidates in Conakry were noisy but peaceful. Security forces have banned large gatherings during voting, due to start at 7.00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), and are closing national borders until midnight today.
