Resource Information Center: Guinea

Query:

When was the Parti Liberal Democratique (PLD) founded?

Who founded it?

Is this party a supporter of the government or in opposition to the government?

Does it have any representation in the national legislature?

Response:

The Parti Liberal Democratique (PLD) was founded on January 20, 1992. The PLD was recognized as a legal political party by the Guinean government on 2 April 1992. The PLD headquarters is located at Quartier Kenien, Commune de Dixinn, Boite postale 1678, Conakry, Guinea. The principal leaders of the PLD are: Yasane Mohammed, Diallo Thierno Hassa, Guilavogui Zeze, Conte Mohamed Babayore, Toure Mariama, Haba Cece, Kaba Falilou, Camara Naby, Balse Mamadou Oury, and Thiam Saidou Nourou.

The PLD was a member of the "Groupe de Mariador." This was an early meeting of elements of the political class to demonstrate their support for Guinea's democratic evolution. The meeting at the Mariador Hotel in Conakry took place on May 8, 1992 and could be classified as an opposition grouping in its day.

On 31 September 1993, the PLD joined the Alliance pour la democratie et le progres (ADP). The ADP was composed of the COSALAC and MOSALAC parties.

The PLD's participation in the ADP clearly shifted their position from political opponent to political ally. While the PLD originated as an "opposition group" committed to the idea of Guinea becoming a multi-party democracy, the PLD later, as a member of the ADP committed its support to General Lansana Conte as the leading candidate for president of Guinea at the time (Bayer 28 January 2000).

Guinea's National Assembly is made of 114 members with a 5 year mandate. Guinea held its first multi-party legislative elections in June 1995, in which 850 candidates representing 21 out of the 46 legalized parties participated. Sixty percent of National Assembly seats went to the President's Party of Unity and Progress (PUP). The PLD is not among the parties that won representation in the legislature at the 1995 elections (BBC 10 Apr. 1992; Europa 1998 1998, 1568; Political Parties of the World 1996, 296; Political Handbook 1998 1998, 380-381).

The PUP continues to dominate all three branches of government. President Conte won a second 5 year term in the December 1998 election which was marked by widespread irregularities, violence and civil unrest. Guinean law restricts freedom of assembly. In the period leading up to the 1998 presidential elections the government used its power to thwart unwanted political activity. In April 1998, police arrested two opposition party members of the National Assembly on charges of holding an unauthorized meeting. There were also reports of harassment of the RPG opposition party (Country Reports 1998, 1999, 187 & 194).

Information was unavailable among the sources contacted by the RIC regarding PLD candidates that ran in the 1995 legislative elections. This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RIC within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References:

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. "Guinea Interior Minister announces legalization of 17 political parties," [Radiodiffusion Nationale de la Republique de Guinee] (Conakry, 10 April 1992) ¿ as reported by NEXIS.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998. 1999. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Europa World Yearbook 1998. 1998. 39^th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C.

Muller. Binghampton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of the World. 1996. 4^th ed. Edited by Alan Day, Richard German and John Campbell. London: Cartermill Publishing.

Attachments:

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. "Guinea Interior Minister announces legalization of 17 political parties," [Radiodiffusion Nationale de la Republique de Guinee] (Conakry, 10 April 1992) ¿ as reported by NEXIS.