Guinea holding referendum to allow president to ‘remain’

Alpha Conde is in currently his final term as president

The West African nation of Guinea is defying the coronavirus pandemic to hold a controversial referendum tomorrow that could allow the president to stay longer in power.

Nearly five million voters are registered for the vote, which also will choose 14 National Assembly members. President Alpha Conde, whose second and currently final term ends in December, might win the chance to stand for two more seven-year terms.

Some civil society groups urge authorities to postpone the vote until the end of the pandemic.

Guinea has two cases of the virus, according to the National Agency for Health Security.

However, the ruling party has said the cases cannot prevent the rest of the county from voting. The election won’t spread the virus, spokesman Amadou Damaro Camara said.

A coalition of opposition and civil society groups, the Nationalfrontforthedefence of the Constitution, which has been demonstrating against the referendum, has called for another demonstration on tomorrow and on Sunday against the election.

When asked if calling for mass gatherings was the right thing to do amid a pandemic, the coalition’s spokesman Sekou Koundouno said they had no other choice.

They have said this year they will use all means necessary to prevent the vote on a referendum.

More than 36 people have died in demonstrations against the referendum since October, along with at least one gendarme.