Guinea govt backs new constitution: PM
Thursday, May 30, 2019       01:27 WIB

Conakry, May 29, 2019 (AFP)
Guinea's government backs drafting a new constitution, the country's prime minister said on Wednesday, as debate over a constitutional reform to allow President Alpha Conde a third term sparks unrest.
Conde, 81, became Guinea's first freely-elected president in 2010 and was re-elected five years later. But he has questioned two-term limits and cracked down on protests against him seeking another term.
"I put the question to the government, inviting each minister to pronounce on the principle of a new Constitution, the answer was unanimous, yes," Prime Minister Kassory Fofana told a press conference.
Fofana's comments followed several statements from Conde, whose last term ends next year, that observers have interrupted as favouring an amendment though he has not officially announced any reform.
The National Front for the Defense of the Constitution ( FNDC ) was formed in April by the main opposition parties, civil society associations and trade unions to oppose a possible third term.
Last month, supporters and opponents of a third term clashed in two Guinean towns, with several hurt and others arrested.
Seven members of opposition front were arrested this month as they protested outside a stadium where Conde addressed supporters in Kindia, northeast of the capital Conakry.
A court sentenced each of them to three months in prison for "disturbing the public order," according to a judgement seen by AFP.
Political unrest also erupted last year when Conde's ruling party won the first local elections to be held since 2005, in results disputed by the main opposition party.

Sumber : AFP