Guinean president Conde wins presidential elections after first round

Guinean President Alpha Conde was re-elected for a third term after winning the country’s presidential elections held on Oct. 18 with 59,49% of the vote.

The results were announced after the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) concluded the vote-counting process.

International observers that monitored the elections said it was carried out properly, giving it a positive grade.

Cellou Dalein Diallo, the main rival and leader of the opposition Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), got 33.5% of votes, the election commission said.

None of the other 10 candidates exceeded the 5% threshold.

Conde, who took office in 2010 for a five-year term following the first democratic power transfer since the country gained its independence in 1958, was selected once again as president in 2015.

Presidents in the country were previously only able to serve for two consecutive terms, however after a Mar. 22 referendum, a constitutional change was made, which paved the way for 82-year-old Conde to serve for his third term.