ECOWAS welcomes commitment of Guinean authorities towards democracy

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - ECOWAS has welcomed a televised statement of General Sekouba Konate, Second Vice President of Guinea on Wednesday, January 6, expressing commitment towards the establishment of favourable conditions for rapid return to constitutional order.

A press release issued by the commission and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, hailed the decision by General Konate, Acting Head of State, to create a new Transition Authority and designate a Prime Minister from the ranks of the opposition to head a broad consensus government.

The government will manage a short transition, leading to the organisation of credible and transparent elections.

These commitments comply with the decision of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, which laid out the institutional framework for the mediation being led by President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso, the establishment of a new consensus transition authority, that would preside over a short transition, which would lead to the organisation of credible and transparent elections in which members of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) and the Prime Minister will not stand.

"Furthermore, ECOWAS welcomes the creation of a mechanism that will safeguard the security of Guinean citizens and foreigners, protect their property and ensure their free movement across the entire territory.

"ECOWAS feels that these are constructive commitments, which will contribute to restoring the confidence between the people of Guinea, the Guinean authorities and the international community.

"ECOWAS reiterates its commitment, that of the African Union and the international community to support the authorities and people of Guinea in the implementation of these commitments."

The release said ECOWAS took note of the Rabat Declaration of January 5, on a peaceful emergence from the crisis through a democratic transition ending in credible and transparent elections.

GNA