Guinea’s Russia-Backed President Leads Election as Tension Rises

(Bloomberg) -- Guinean President Alpha Conde led the vote count in half of the nation’s 38 districts amid clashes between opposition supporters and security forces that have left at least nine people dead.

Conde garnered the most ballots in 14 areas, while opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo obtained a majority in six, Kabinet Cisse, the head of the electoral commission, said on state television late Wednesday. Election officials expect to complete the count in the remaining districts by the end of the week.

Diallo, a former prime minister, claimed on Oct. 19 that he’d won the vote, based on his campaign’s tally of results from polling stations. Clashes erupted after early results from the electoral commission showed Conde in the lead.

Conde and Diallo were the two frontrunners going into the election. Conde has the advantages of incumbency, a well-funded campaign and backing from Russia, whose companies have invested heavily in mines to extract the nation’s abundant iron-ore and bauxite reserves. Diallo was the runner-up in the 2010 and 2015 elections.

The Red Cross Society of Guinea on Thursday suspended relief operations in parts of the capital, Conakry, after protesters attacked its headquarters on Wednesday. Two vehicles and several motorcycles were burned, while nine other motorcycles were taken by the protesters, the institution’s president, Youssouf Traore, said by phone.

“No volunteers were injured but it is difficult to intervene in these conditions because our safety is not guaranteed,” he said.

Guinea will hold a second round of voting on Nov. 24 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the ballot.

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