1. The 4th session of the International Contact Group on Guinea (ICG-G) took place in Sirte, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on 27 June 2009, under the co-chairmanship of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Mr.Jean Ping, and the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. In addition to the AU and ECOWAS, the ICG-G is composed of CEN-SAD, the European Union (EU), the Mano River Union (MRU), the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the United Nations, as well as the current Chair of ECOWAS, the Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), the African members and the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Spain, Japan and Germany, as well as the World Bank, also participate in the meetings of the ICG-G.
2. The Group welcomed the role of the local ICG-G, shared the concerns raised and endorsed the recommendations made in the Memorandum of its meeting of 18 and 19 June 2009 in Conakry.
3. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in West Africa and the AU Special Envoy for Guinea briefed the Group on the recent political and security situation in Guinea. The Group discussed the current political development in the country and expressed concern over the lack of progress in the transition towards the restoration of constitutional order and the holding of elections in 2009. It noted specifically the following issues:
(i) the lack of political dialogue between the different actors of the transition, which could compromise the return of the country to constitutional order;
(ii) the non establishment of the Transitional National Council (CNT), initially scheduled to be established in March 2009, because of divergences over its composition and status;
(iii) the suspension of the registration of voters and the lack of clarity on its completion, including the issue of voting by Guineans living abroad;
(iv) the deterioration of the security situation and the violation of human rights (arbitrary arrests and detentions);
(v) the constraints upon freedom of expression and association, notably the prevention of access of political parties to the State media, as well as the prohibition of their public activities; and
(vi) the degradation of the economic and financial situation and the problem of cash flow at the State level, as well as the lack of a climate conducive to investment and economic activities.
4. The Group took note of the revised budget of CENI for the preparation and organization of the legislative and presidential elections, which stood at 149. 008. 850.000 FG, estimated at about 22,577,098 Euros or US$ 31,704,011. The Group commended the commitment of the various partners for contributing to the election budget within the framework of the normal procedures, and underscored the need to mobilise the required resources. The Group also expressed the hope that the Steering Committee would promote the coordination of the electoral process in general and the funding, in particular.
5. The Group welcomed the provision of financial contribution to the electoral process by partners, and confirmed its predisposition to an additional resource mobilization for the said process. It urged the CNDD to put in place, without delay, the CNT and to honour the pledge to make a financial contribution towards the preparation of the elections, in order to ensure the implementation of the chronogram and gain the confidence of the international community.
6. The Group called on the CNDD and the Transitional Government to intensify the fight against impunity. It noted that the repeated incidents of violence and extortion by uniformed armed personnel against the business community and civilians seriously undermine the credibility of the transitional administration and pose a real threat to the indispensable political stability necessary for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
7. The Group stressed the importance of the respect for mutual obligations during the current transitional phase, and reaffirmed its determination and that of the development partners to continue to support Guinea in this respect.
8. The Group examined the issues hindering the conduct of the transition and expressed strong concern over the slow progress in the implementation of the adopted chronogram. Accordingly, the Group stressed the need for the following:
(i) the revival of dialogue;
(ii) the holding of elections before the end of 2009, within the time frame of the chronogram;
(iii) the formal commitment by the President and members of the CNDD, as well as the Prime Minister, not to stand for the forthcoming legislative and presidential elections;
(iv) the respect for human rights; and
(v) the disbursement of Guinea’s contribution towards the conduct of the elections.
9. The Group looks forward to the outcome of the planned meeting of the AU PSC in early July 2009, to review the situation in Guinea in the light of the latest developments in the country and the expiry, on 24 June 2009, of the six months deadline provided for by the Lomé Declaration for the restoration of constitutional order. The Group is confident that the decisions that will be taken by the PSC will help move forward the process of the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea. The Group also looks forward to the conclusions of the consultation between Guinea and the EU under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement.
10. The Group agreed to meet at a high political level in Conakry, on 16 and 17 July 2009, with a view to securing firm commitments from the CNDD regarding the restoration of constitutional order within the agreed timeframe.