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Guinea government to step down as Conde begins second term

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Guinea's government said on Monday it would step aside in the next two days to make way for a new administration as President Alpha Conde was installed for a second term.

The 77-year-old, re-elected in controversial October polls, was handed a sealed list of his functions during a 15-minute ceremony at the constitutional court.

"From this moment, the president begins his second term of five years and, in the process, logically the government will resign today or tomorrow at the latest," Justice Minister Cheick Sako said in a statement.

Conde had already been sworn in at a more elaborate ceremony a week earlier, but was asked to re-read his oath as he had omitted the pledge to "uphold the law" at the first time of asking.

He didn't make a speech but at last week's ceremony told leaders from across Africa he would work towards making the country a model of peace and justice.

The constitutional court last month formally confirmed Conde's re-election with 57.8 percent of the vote, dismissing opposition claims of vote rigging and fraud.

Appeals lodged by several of his rivals calling for the vote to be annulled were rejected by the court, which said they lacked proof or had no bearing on the results.

Conde's main rival, opposition leader and former premier Cellou Dalein Diallo, came second in the election with 31.45 percent.

He has refused to recognise the outcome of what he labelled an "illegal" vote tainted by mismanagement and fraud.

At least 13 people were killed during days of violence bookending the election, with the security forces responsible for the deaths of unarmed civilians, according to Amnesty International.

It was only the second democratic presidential poll since Guinea gained independence from France in 1958.

The west African nation's first democratic election in 2010 went to a second round between Conde and Diallo, which Conde narrowly won.

Rights campaigners have urged Conde to use his second term to intensify the fight against impunity, strengthen the judiciary and promote equal respect for the rights of all Guineans.

Guinea’s government said on Monday it would step aside in the next two days to make way for a new administration as President Alpha Conde was installed for a second term.

The 77-year-old, re-elected in controversial October polls, was handed a sealed list of his functions during a 15-minute ceremony at the constitutional court.

“From this moment, the president begins his second term of five years and, in the process, logically the government will resign today or tomorrow at the latest,” Justice Minister Cheick Sako said in a statement.

Conde had already been sworn in at a more elaborate ceremony a week earlier, but was asked to re-read his oath as he had omitted the pledge to “uphold the law” at the first time of asking.

He didn’t make a speech but at last week’s ceremony told leaders from across Africa he would work towards making the country a model of peace and justice.

The constitutional court last month formally confirmed Conde’s re-election with 57.8 percent of the vote, dismissing opposition claims of vote rigging and fraud.

Appeals lodged by several of his rivals calling for the vote to be annulled were rejected by the court, which said they lacked proof or had no bearing on the results.

Conde’s main rival, opposition leader and former premier Cellou Dalein Diallo, came second in the election with 31.45 percent.

He has refused to recognise the outcome of what he labelled an “illegal” vote tainted by mismanagement and fraud.

At least 13 people were killed during days of violence bookending the election, with the security forces responsible for the deaths of unarmed civilians, according to Amnesty International.

It was only the second democratic presidential poll since Guinea gained independence from France in 1958.

The west African nation’s first democratic election in 2010 went to a second round between Conde and Diallo, which Conde narrowly won.

Rights campaigners have urged Conde to use his second term to intensify the fight against impunity, strengthen the judiciary and promote equal respect for the rights of all Guineans.

AFP
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