Conakry, Guinea – Authorities in the West African nation of Guinea have declared a state of emergency amid post-election violence that has killed at least nine people, the government said yesterday on national radio.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nouhou Thiam said the state of emergency was established in response to attacks by civilians on security forces. “Groups with malevolent intentions are deliberately attacking the forces of order,” said Thiam, who read the decree on state radio before contacting foreign diplomats and civil society groups.
But doctors and local residents blamed many of the deaths on government security forces.
Supporters of rival Guinean presidential candidates have clashed with each other and with security forces in Conakry, the capital, and other cities in northern Guinea, since Monday, when Alpha Conde was declared the winner of the November 7 runoff election. At least nine people have been killed in the past three days.
Thiam said the state of emergency “is aimed at preserving the peace, tranquility and national unity,” and will last until the Supreme Court issues final results of the presidential election.
Almost all shops and businesses were closed and most residents remained indoors.
An overnight curfew restricted the gathering of people for any purpose and gave the military the right to check identification of any pedestrians or automobiles. People were still allowed to move freely throughout the city. (CNN)
