Update: “Observer reports all agree that the election was far better organized than the first round election. On November 15, the CENI announced final provisional results showing that Alpha Condé defeated Cellou Dalein Diallo with 52.52% of the vote. Hopefully the transparency of the entire process, including the centralization and tabulation procedures will help voters accept the final result. There were sporadic outbreaks of violence in the period immediately before the announcement of provisional results and there are still fears that violent reactions could still take place in the near future. It is now up to the Supreme Court to examine all complaints and pronounce the definitive results, a process that could take up to 11 days. IFES urges all Guineans to respect the legal procedures and accept the results issued by the Supreme Court.”

After decades of dictatorship, Guinea had its first legitimate presidential election on June 27, 2010. The results were accepted by the population, but the poll revealed that Guinea’s electoral commission (CENI because of its acronym in French) had to make many improvements to the voting process. After months of addressing the issues that plagued the June election, the runoff election took place this past Sunday. Elizabeth Côté, IFES chief of party in Guinea, comments:

“Four months after the first round of the presidential election, the runoff took place on Sunday, November 7 in a peaceful and orderly fashion, despite the violent outbreaks that dotted the political campaign. Guineans went out in great numbers to chose between the two contenders Cellou Dallein Diallo and Alpha Condé who also represent the two largest ethnic communities in Guinea, the Peuhl and the Malinké. Everyone agrees that the election was far better organized this time around and results are coming in at a regular pace. Hopefully the transparency of the centralization and tabulation procedures will help voters accept the final result. There are still fears that violent reactions could occur following the announcement of the preliminary results by the electoral commission (CENI) expected in the next few days.”

For more information on Guinea’s developing democracy or IFES’ work in the country, please visit: http://www.ifes.org/countries/Guinea.aspx