“I will try in my small way to be Guinea’s Mandela and unite every son of Guinea,” Reuters quoted Conde as saying after taking his oath. “The restoration of social cohesion and national unity requires a collective look at our painful past.”
The veteran opposition leader was elected on November 7 in a vote meant to end nearly two years of military leadership in the West African country, and many years of authoritarian rule since independence from France in 1958.
Conde’s swearing in was attended by current South African President Jacob Zuma and the heads of state of fellow West African countries Guinea Bissau, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Senegal.
Guinea’s election has been praised by the United Nations and others as an example that countries in West Africa can emulate.
Source: Africanews