Activities have been severely disrupted since the election, especially in the markets, and prices are feeling the effects.
With our special correspondent in Conakry, Charlotte idrac
Sitting on a bench in the Taouyah market, Moussa is waiting for customers. This grocery store sells “a little of everything”, he says, blisters, mosquito repellent … After ten days of closure, he has just reopened his store. “We were stuck at home and could not sell. We live from day to day. The state must give us guarantees. “However, he only reopened one door to his store. “We have fear in our stomachs. Afraid of what might happen. ”
After the paralysis in the last few days due to violence, the neighborhood has regained some liveliness. But Abdoulaye Barry, a seller of pharmaceuticals, kept the door closed. He could not get his supplies at the large Madina market in Conakry. And as he says, “if it is closed over there, Guinea is closed”.
The consequence of these delivery difficulties: the price of certain basic necessities has risen, especially the price of bread. This young woman sells half baguettes, she tries to explain to her customers that she has nothing to do with it. “Before, there were four for 5,000 [francs guinéens]now it’s three for 5000. Customers are not coming anymore. There is no more flour. Therefore, we had to raise the price. ”
Next to that, the price of the pot of rice has doubled compared to last week, from 2,500 to 5,000 Guinean francs, just under 50 cents. “We’re doing our best,” the saleswoman whispers.
For the EU, “questions remain”
Note that the Internet connection was restored on Tuesday, October 27 on the Orange Guinea network, the country’s main operator. It had been unavailable since last Friday.
In a press release, the European Union notes “the Electoral Commission’s communication on the preliminary results”. But she believes that “there are still questions about the credibility of the result, especially with regard to the reporting of the minutes and the final count of the votes”.
The Election Commission declared President Alpha Condé the winner in the first round of the October 18 presidential election, but his main opponent Cellou Dalein Diallo disputes those figures. The deprivation caused deadly violence in the country: at least 21 dead according to the government, thirty according to the opposition. Several neighborhoods on the outskirts of Conakry have been cordoned off by the defense and security forces.
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