Mo Ibrahim Foundation Reacts to Election Violence

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has called for free and fair elections across Africa amidst violence and political unrest.

The foundation made the call following reports of political tensions in Guinea and Ivory Coast.

Development Diaries understands that political tensions around Guinea’s presidential election turned violent after opposition candidate, Cellou Dalein Diallo, claimed victory ahead of the official results.

Celebrations by his supporters were suppressed when security operatives fired teargas to disperse them before the country’s electoral body, National Independent Electoral Commission, declared President Alpha Condé winner of the election.

At least nine people were killed, according to the government.

In Ivory Coast, President Alassane Ouattara has won a controversial third term in office in an election boycotted by the opposition.

Ouattara got 94 percent of the vote, according to the West African country’s Constitutional Council, with the turnout put at almost 54 percent.

Tension is growing in the country as the opposition said it was creating a transitional government which would organise a new election.

The main opposition candidates, Henri Konan Bédié and Pascal Affi N’Guessan, had said that it was illegal for the president to stand for a third term as the country’s constitution has a two-term presidential limit.

In a statement by the Foundation, they stated that the continent was going through a busy election period, however, they expressed concern over the reports of violence against peaceful demonstrators or detention of political opponents.

‘Our democratic gains over the past two decades are being rolled back across too many of our countries. This is unacceptable’, Mo Ibrahim Foundation said in a statement.

‘While the world is preoccupied with the fight to control the pandemic, some of our political leaders feel they can act with impunity and trample over the rights of their fellow citizens.

‘Election processes should be clarified and agreed before elections, and where disputes arise these should be settled in courts, not on streets.

‘We call on all parties to respect the rights and dignity of all citizens and resolve their differences through constructive and open dialogue’.

Source: The New Dawn

Photo source: Reuters

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