Guinea political dialogue: Prospect of elections still seem far off
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Transcript
00:00 Back in opposition since the fall of their leader, Alpha Conde, the rally of the Guinean
00:04 People Party, in power between 2010 and 2021, had initially engaged in talks with the ruling
00:10 junta.
00:12 But today some of its leaders are under investigation and dialogue has stalled.
00:16 "There's a law in Guinea that says that elections are to be organised by the independent
00:20 commission.
00:21 But now we learnt it will be the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
00:26 The electoral codes also need to be reviewed and the constitution too.
00:31 But all of these debates take place behind closed doors, making it difficult for us to
00:35 follow."
00:37 Several political organisations keen to see the party return to negotiations want to engage
00:42 with the military directly, with talks facilitated by regional bloc ECOWAS.
00:49 The minister in charge of organising eventual elections says he'll engage with all sides.
00:54 "Some party leaders feel that the political parties they are in charge of are linked to
01:00 them personally.
01:01 So when they have a problem with the law, the party has a problem with the law.
01:04 When they have health problems, the party has health problems.
01:07 Unfortunately this is what we're dealing with."
01:11 Some observers are clear that the ruling military has to do more to restore a climate of trust
01:16 as soon as possible.
01:18 "The risk is huge because it's like slipping back into a cycle of violence that we can't
01:24 control and that could take us in any direction."
01:33 The Junta-led government has pledged to organise elections by the end of 2024.
01:38 But some here doubt the vote will go ahead as promised.
01:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]