Guinea's transitional government steps down

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Published on Thursday, 23 December 2010 21:40

Written by Biro diallo

Guinea's transitional government steps down

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CONAKRY — Guinea President Alpha Conde accepted Wednesday the resignation of the transitional government ahead of the appointment of a new administration after his swearing into office.

Conde, 72, was sworn in on Tuesday as the first democratically elected president of the west African nation after decades of despotic and military regimes since independence from France in 1958.

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 The new president praised the outgoing government of Jean-Marie Dore as having "perfectly" carried out its mission of leading "the transition to free and transparent elections and ensuring peace and tranquility".

"Today Guinea is cited as an example ... in the sub-region," he said, apparently referring to the post-election turmoil in neighbouring Ivory Coast where the incumbent president and his rival both claim to be president.

Conde defeated front-runner Cellou Dalein Diallo in a run-off poll on November 7.

Political and ethnic violence linked to the election left at least seven people dead and a state of emergency was imposed across the country for three weeks.

Conde said the minister of security and finance would remain in position until the appointment of the new government.

The security ministry said in a statement that Conde had asked outgoing ministers and senior state officials to defer any travel outside of the country until their successors had been appointed and started working.

US President Barack Obama congratulated Guinea Wednesday on entering a "new democratic era" after Conde's inauguration.

"On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Guinea as they witness the inauguration of their first democratically elected president since becoming an independent state in 1958," Obama said.

"As the country begins its new democratic era, I extend congratulations to President Alpha Conde on his inauguration," Obama added.

"I also express my appreciation for the way in which Cellou Dalein Diallo gracefully accepted the outcome of the election and spoke of the importance of a unified Guinea in moving forward."

 Source: AFP