Guinea’s president decrees start of campaign for contested legislative election

CONAKRY, Guinea – Guinea’s president unilaterally decreed the start of campaigning for a highly contested legislative election, which has been repeatedly delayed due to opposition complaints.

In a decree read on national television Wednesday, President Alpha Conde announced that campaigning will begin at midnight and would end at the same time on June 28. The move has taken the nation by surprise, and comes as the country’s opposition leaders on Wednesday put to rest six of the 12 opposition members who were killed during last week’s protest against the planned vote.

Not a single opposition party has submitted the necessary paperwork to compete in the proposed June 30 election. They have threatened to boycott over accusations that the ruling party is planning to rig the outcome.