GUINEA: Opposition attack polling station, clash with police to disrupt referendum

Guinea’s referendum was marred by violence as scores of angry opposition members attacked a polling station and clashed with police in the capital, Conakry, in an attempt to disrupt the process.

Reports say demonstrators who believe that President Alpha Conde wants to use the referendum to extend his time in office also vandalised voting equipment that was also being used in coinciding legislative elections.

Further reports added that on Friday and Saturday there was widespread destruction across the West African country as protesters moved to stop Mr Conde, 82, who says he wants to change the constitution to introduce reforms, such as banning female genital mutilation – a claim his critic’s dispute.

Many also boycotted Sunday’s vote as people said they were worried about holding it amid the coronavirus outbreak as Guinea was one of three countries badly hit by the 2014 Ebola crisis, has confirmed two cases of COVID-19.

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The opposition leaders argued further that Conde, the country’s first democratically elected leader, is planning to use the new constitution as a reset button on the current two five-year term limits.

“Alpha Conde is trying to change the constitution to stay in power for life,” Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) party and the main opposition leader, told Al Jazeera.

“Many of our people have been killed protesting this decision. It is their constitutional right to protest against his decision,” added Diallo, a former prime minister.

Conde has ruled the West African country since 2010; his second and final five-year term will come to an end in December.

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