The InterDependent

CONAKRY – Political and ethnic violence that killed at least two people in Guinea in the last week has cast doubt over the country’s ability to hold a peaceful democratic transition from military rule.

Violence broke out last Monday and Tuesday as well as on Friday and Saturday after the West African country’s presidential runoff election was delayed for a fourth time to Nov. 7.

Both candidates called for calm from their partisans, while the military junta leader, Gen. Sékouba Konaté, told the nation in a televised address that there will be "zero tolerance for delinquents" who wish to disrupt the electoral process.

Joe Penney

Shootings by military forces against civilians left at least two people dead recently, as Guinea endures numerous postponement of its first fair presidential election. Here, a suburb of Conakry.

The United Nations Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights said in a report that security forces used “excessive force” in repressing street protests.

"Government forces committed serious rights violations by indiscriminately shooting at unarmed civilians, sometimes at point-blank range; breaking into and ransacking private homes; and severely beating young men who put up no resistance,” the report said.

“Some members of the security forces appear to be making threats, and even carrying out assaults, based on people’s ethnicity or political affiliation,” the report added.

An Amnesty International summary released on Monday corroborated these claims.

Joe Penney

A rally for Cellou Dalein Diallo in Conakry.

Meanwhile, the new president of the electoral commission, a retired Malian general, Siaka Toumani Sangaré, stressed the need to finish the democratic transition as soon as possible.

“We must go to elections very soon because the people have been waiting for such a long time,” Sangaré said on Monday.

Guinea has never held a credible presidential election in its 52-year history, and many view this vote as crucial for the country’s ability to attract foreign investment and debt relief.