Guinea army chief promises military will be neutral in upcoming elections, polls will be fair

Guinea army chief promises free, fair elections

CONAKRY, Guinea — The chief of Guinea’s army has promised that the military will remain neutral in next month’s elections — considered the West African country’s chance to escape from decades of dictatorship.

Col. Nouhou Thiam, who this week was put in charge of election security, told presidential candidates in the capital of Conakry late Wednesday that his forces would defend the democratic process. Elections are scheduled for June 27.

“We are determined to bring you elections that are free, credible and transparent,” said Thiam in remarks broadcast on state TV. “This is an army that is here to defend the nation and democratic institutions, and not an army that will create a cult of personality.”

That appeared to be a reference to the army’s support for and close connection to the dictators who have ruled Guinea since it gained independence from France in 1958. That cycle seemed set to continue when Capt. Moussa “Dadis” Camara seized power in December 2008, hours after the previous leader died.

Though Camara was initially popular, it soon became clear he had no intention of leaving office.

When opposition groups rallied in September to insist he step down, security forces responded with tremendous force, massacring at least 156 people and raping countless women. An assassination attempt on Camara two months later eventually drove him into exile.

Since then, a transitional government — led by Camara’s former deputy, Gen. Sekouba Konate but that also includes civilian leaders — has taken power. It is seen as the country’s best chance at free elections. But in a country that saw two successive leaders cling to power for more than two decades each, a truly competitive election is uncertain.

“I promise you that the Guinean army and the paramilitary forces are and will continue to be neutral in the matter of elections,” said Thiam, who is thought to be widely respected among both military and civilian leaders.

He urged the candidates to tell their supporters to refrain from violence and vandalism.