The United States is concerned about the Government of Guinea’s current plans to hold legislative elections and a constitutional referendum on March 1. We question whether the process will be free, fair, and transparent and accurately reflect the will of all eligible voters. We urge all parties to engage in nonviolent civil dialogue. The Government of Guinea should implement the United Nations’ recommendations for voter rolls and uphold its commitment to an inclusive national consultation on the new constitution.

Violence, repression, and political intimidation have no place in a democracy. We call upon all protestors, regardless of political affiliation, to refrain from violence. We urge the security forces to respect the rights of all citizens to participate in peaceful protests. We also call upon the Government of Guinea to investigate fully all deaths associated with demonstrations and to make the results of these investigations public.

As I conveyed to President Conde in September 2019 during his visit to Washington, the United States strongly supports regular, democratic transitions of power. The United States remains committed to working with all Guineans to strengthen their democratic system for peace, prosperity, and partnership in the years to come.