The IRIN news service reports that legislative elections originally scheduled for October 2007 and postponed several times are unlikely to occur this year as promised by the government.
An International Crisis Group report* released a few days ago stated, “Calming talk of inclusion and pursuit of change from the new head of government should fool no one. Unless robust internal and external pressure is applied, there is every chance the government will break the promise of credible legislative elections in December 2008.”
The ICG added that another electoral postponement would “compromise economic revival and bury the independent commission of inquiry tasked with identifying and prosecuting authors of the 2007 crackdown.”
Donors have criticized the Guinean government for not allocating sufficient funds for the elections.
“The Guinean government has spent more on sending the Guinean football team to the African Cup than on its own elections. Why should donors pay for it if they’re not willing to themselves?” One frustrated donor told IRIN, adding, “It is not up to the international community to push elections – it has to come from within.”
*-The entire ICG report on the situation in Guinea can be accessed here
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