Postponement of the Second Round of Presidential Elections in Guinea

25 October 2010
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Abuja - Nigeria — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) expresses its satisfaction with the consultations that were recently held and which opportunely resulted in a consensus in the choice and appointment of Brigadier General Siaka Toumany Sangaré as President of the CENI in Guinea.

CENI or the National Independent Electoral Commission is in charge of organizing the Second Round of the Presidential Elections. It is the hope of ECOWAS that this appointment and that of the two Vice- Presidents will provide a lasting solution to the leadership crisis within that body. ECOWAS has also taken note of the useful consultations that resulted in the postponement of the Second Round of the Presidential Elections previously scheduled for 24th October 2010.

To ensure the best conditions for calm and peaceful elections in Guinea, ECOWAS urges all members of the CENI to strengthen unity and inclusivity around the new leadership and to collaborate with all stakeholders involved in the preparations for the elections in order to overcome all challenges identified and thus decide, as soon as possible, on a new date for the effective holding of the Second Round of the Presidential Elections.

Concerned with the sporadic and repeated acts of violence that have characterized the electoral campaign and in conformity with the spirit of the Protocol on peaceful elections in Guinea signed in Ouagadougou on 3rd September 2010 by the two candidates in contention in the Second Round, ECOWAS reiterates its appeal for calm and also urges all stakeholders in the process as well as the entire Guinean population to put the national interest above any militant or ethnic factor.

ECOWAS congratulates General Sékouba Konaté, the Transitional President, for his commitment and leadership in the search for a peaceful solution to the political stalemate that had bedeviled the electoral process during the past few weeks. It encourages him to continue his invaluable efforts for the successful conduct of the democratic and electoral process in Guinea.

ECOWAS reaffirms its commitment to support Guinea in this critical process to ensure a return to political integrity, cohesion, unity and constitutional order in the country.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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