Guinea candidates commit to peaceful runoff vote amid fears of election violence

Guinea candidates commit to peaceful runoff vote

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — The two candidates facing off in Guinea’s historic runoff election later this month say they’ll respect its outcome.

Both signed an agreement on Friday in Burkina Faso stating that they will “solemnly and scrupulously conform themselves to the verdict of the polls.”

The mineral-rich West African nation recently survived the one-year rule of a brutal military junta, and the Sept. 19 vote could choose the country’s first democratically elected leader ever.

There have been concerns, though, that violence could erupt. The leading candidate is a member of the Peul ethnic group, and Peul community leaders have vowed to lead a revolt if election results are distorted to prevent him from winning.