Electoral commission (CENI) 1 March confirmed local elections delayed due to lack of preparation, budget; CENI continued preparations but opposition expressed concern about lack of dialogue and non-implementation of July 2013 political agreement, threatened to resume peaceful demonstrations unless 1st session of newly elected assembly on 5 April is used to discuss issues. Supreme Council of Judiciary, oversight body, established 10 March following 19 Feb visit by ICC delegation investigating Sept 2009 massacre. Riots broke out in Conakry 11 March after gendarme killed civilian. Govt raised death toll from “unprecedented” Ebola epidemic to 78; Senegal sealed border amid fears of regional pandemic.

President Condé 6 Feb held first cabinet meeting, set priorities. Opposition leaders threatened to resume protests after electoral commission (CENI) executive 10 Feb admitted deadline for preparation of local elections set by July 2013 political accord would not be met; leader of strongest opposition party, Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), 15 Feb called for urgent dialogue. Inter-communal tensions in Boké following unexplained death of ethnic Landouma moto-taxi driver 3 Feb; riots in Dubreka same day over land and quota of employment for local youth at new cement factory. Riots in Kindia and several districts of Conakry against power cuts.

Newly elected National Assembly (NA) inaugurated 13 Jan; ruling Rally of Guinean People’s (RPG) Claude Kory Kondiano elected NA president; 4 VPs elected 16 Jan. PM Mohamed Saïd Fofana 15 Jan tendered his resignation and cabinet’s; in surprise move, President Condé 19 Jan reappointed Fofana as PM. Govt, EU 8 Jan reached agreement to fight illegal maritime activities.

Leading opposition parties, with exception of Hope for National Development (PEDN), 12 Dec announced they would sit at newly elected National Assembly; parties nevertheless maintained criticism of 17 Dec presidential decree to reconvene National Transition Council (interim legislative body), Supreme Court’s rejection of appeals against Sept elections results. Killing of local footballer Balla Conde 5 Dec sparked protests in Kankan, ruling Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) stronghold; at least 3 killed, 20 injured when police opened fire on crowd. EU 12 Dec announced full resumption of development cooperation, suspended since 2008 coup.

Supreme Court 15 Nov confirmed provisional results of 28 Sept legislative elections giving ruling RPG and allies simple majority, rejected opposition’s motions for annulment. Ruling severely criticised by opposition leaders; opposition supporters 16 Nov protested in Conakry against “electoral hold-up”. Teenage demonstrator killed, 11 injured 17 Nov when police in Conakry clashed with supporters of Mandian Sidibé, head of private radio Planète FM critical of Condé’s regime, following reported kidnapping attempt. Incidents during 25 Nov shutdown called for by opposition resulted in 1 dead, 17 wounded. Demonstrations over water and power shortages in Conakry, Fria and Dinguiraye turned violent, dozens injured. 25 Nov high-profile conference of Guinea’s partners in Abu Dhabi presented as success, with announcement of $6bn in investments.

Controversy over legislative elections continued as opposition 4 Oct called for annulment of 28 Sept vote in which ruling RPG and small allies were expected to have narrow majority. Electoral commission (CENI) 18 Oct released provisional results stating 8.3% of voting stations rejected for various reasons. RPG and international partners insisted opposition follow established appeal procedures and go to Supreme Court. International partners pressed Supreme Court to pay special attention to 8 problematic districts. Opposition 14 Oct preparing appeals to Supreme Court, mentioned 14 other problematic districts.

Mounting tensions surrounding 28 Sept legislative elections, with fears that disputed result could lead to violence between supporters of opposition and ruling RPG party. Polls initially scheduled 24 Sept; opposition 14 Sept said still unhappy with reform of electoral roll, called on supporters to demonstrate, 18 Sept decided to call off demonstrations in order to “give dialogue a chance”. EU electoral observation mission 17 Sept called on electoral commission (CENI) for greater transparency; ECOWAS also deployed observation mission. After meeting with opposition facilitated by international partners, govt 21 Sept decided to postpone elections to 28 Sept, making some adjustments to electoral process. Minor violent incidents in Labé 17 Sept, Nzerekoré 21 Sept and Kindia 22 Sept, and clashes between opposition and govt supporters 24 Sept in Conakry left 1 dead, 51 injured. Amid reports of missing voting cards and polling stations opening late, elections held peacefully with CENI announcing 80% turnout. EU observation mission 30 Sept released critical assessment of CENI performance. Consolidated results still unavailable 1 Oct; opposition 30 Sept claimed polls marred by ballot-stuffing, vote-tampering, over 50 fake polling stations, claimed victory in all 5 Conakry districts, pledging to resist attempts to tamper with results.

Justice Ministry 9 Aug announced 113 arrested following 15-17 July clashes which left at least 95 dead in N’zérékoré. Preparations for legislative elections scheduled 24 Sept continued; official campaigning began 24 Aug, main opposition parties participating. Opposition 23 Aug met with international partners in efforts to find consensus on electoral rolls. Opposition leaders Cellou Dalein Diallo and Sidya Touré 22 and 27 Aug said preparations not satisfactory, behind schedule; Touré threatened to resume peaceful protests. New “centrist” alliance Agir Ensemble Pour la Guinée (AEG) formed 6 Aug around opposition parties Guinée pour Tous (GPT), Union des Populations de Guinée (UPG) and Parti de l’Espoir pour le Développement National (PEDN).

Govt, opposition 3 July reached agreement on preparation of overdue legislative elections; 24 Sept poll date confirmed 10 July by presidential decree. Court 13 July sentenced 2 to life prison for 2011 attack on residence of President Condé. At least 98 killed, 160 injured during inter-ethnic clashes between Konianké and Guerzé in N’zérékoré, Beyla and Koulé 15-17 July; govt announced investigation.

Opposition boycotted 3 June meeting with govt, called following deadly May clashes between opposition and security forces, to discuss election preparations; demanded release of detained May protesters. Bulk of those arrested released 4 June. Talks held 5-9 June, agreement reached on number of key points including company assisting with voter register and vote of diaspora. But several opposition demands not satisfied, including reopening of voter registration, reshaping of revision commissions tasked with updating electoral lists, and selection of new company for 2015 presidential elections. At least 12 injured 19 June when security forces dispersed gathering in Conakry supporting former PM Diallo, who was answering defamation charges; opposition 22 June withdrew from negotiations, demanded security guarantees and sanctions against attackers. Electoral commission 21 June issued new timeline for legislative elections, set polls for 28 July; opposition rejected timeline saying they need more time to prepare. Court  27 June indicted Minister of Presidential Security Claude Pivi for suspected role in Sept 2009 massacre in Conakry.