On Thursday 26 March, the European Union condemned the violence that resulted in several deaths during the tense climate surrounding the twin ballots on 22 March in the Republic of Guinea, namely the legislative ballot coupled with the constitutional referendum called for by President Alpha Condé.
“These acts of violence and the disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials are unacceptable. The non-inclusive and non-consensual nature of these ballots and of the electoral register undermines the credibility of these elections. The lack of recognised regional and international observation also calls into question the validity of the process. Inter-community divisions are widening dangerously”, reads a statement issued by the EU High Representative’s spokesperson.
The EU also took the opportunity to reiterate its support for the initiatives of ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIE) which are “likely to rehabilitate the electoral process, defuse tensions and re-establish dialogue between all parties”.
The opposition reported 30 deaths during the violence on 22 March, while the Guinean authorities recorded only six. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)