According to an article in the Parisian daily Le Monde, Mamadouh Bah is a member of the Peuhl ethnic group (18 Dec. 1993). He is a founding member of the Guinean Organization for Human Rights (Organisation guinéenne des droits de l'homme-OGDH) and was the leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (Union des forces démocratiques) in 1992 (IPS 17 Sept. 1992; Amnesty International 29 Oct. 1992). In May 1994, Mamadou Bah announced at a press conference that he recognized the presidency of Lansana Conté as legitimate, and that the time had come to negotiate with the Party for Unity and Progress (Parti pour l'unité et le progrès-PUP), which is currently in power (BBC Summary 31 May 1994). Please find attached a number of articles referring to the UNR and the elections of 19 December 1993, as well as a West Africa article on the events of June 1993.

This Response was prepared by the DIRB after researching publicly available information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country referred to, or conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Amnesty International. 29 October 1992. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AFR 29/01/92). London: Amnesty International.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 31 May 1994. "Opposition Leader Mamadou Ba Recognizes Legitimacy of Conte's Presidency." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 17 September 1992. Lansana Fofana. "Guinea: Transition Blues, A Difficult Road to Democracy." (NEXIS)

Le Monde [Paris]. 18 December 1993. Fritscher Frederic. "L'opposition continue d'exiger le report de la première élection pluraliste." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 4 January 1994. "Guinea Supreme Court Confirms Conte's Re-Election." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 December 1993. Vladimir Berezine. "Deux morts, plusieurs blessés lors d'affrontements à Conakry." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International. 29 October 1992. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AFR 29/01/92). London: Amnesty International.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 31 May 1994. "Opposition Leader Mamadou Ba Recognizes Legitimacy of Conte's Presidency." (NEXIS)

_____. 20 January 1994. "Conte Reportedly Says Country to Establish 'Home-Grown' Democracy." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 December 1993. "Opposition and Conakry Archbishop Call for Calm; Shops Reopen." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 December 1993. "Interior Ministry Says Conte Re-Elected; Opposition Warns of 'Popular Unrest'." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 October 1993. "Court Releases Final List of Presidential Candidates." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 October 1993. "International Commission of Jurists Leader on Democratic Process in Guinea." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 October 1993. "Guinea: Merger of Three Opposition Parties." (NEXIS)

_____. 6 September 1993. "President Conte Sets Elections for 5th December, Calls for Unity." (NEXIS

_____. 24 June 1992. "Guinea Party Supporters Clash; Officials Block Voter Registration Forms." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 February 1992. "Guinea University of Conakry Closed Following Strike by Students." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 November 1990. "Guinea: One or More Students Killed; Calls for Protests in Conakry and Paris." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 November 1990. "Guinea Student Unrest at University of Conakry." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 17 September 1992. Lansana Fofana. "Guinea: Transition Blues, A Difficult Road to Democracy." (NEXIS)

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 6-13 January 1994. Elimane Fall. "Guinée: les élections contre la démocratie," pp. 16-17.

_____. 14-20 October 1993. Hamza Kaïdi. "Guinée: le sang des urnes," pp. 26-27.

_____. 15-21 July 1993. Elimane Fall. "Guinée: le spectre de Touré, pp. 18-19.

Le Monde [Paris]. 18 December 1993. Fritscher Frederic. "L'opposition continue d'exiger le report de la première élection pluraliste." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 30 December 1993. BC Cycle. Foday Fofanah. "Guinea President Warns Opposition." (NEXIS)

_____. 20 December 1993. BC Cycle. Foday Fofanah. "Food Short in Guinea Capital Amid Election Tension." (NEXIS)

_____. 15 December 1994. BC Cycle. "Reuter Africa Highlights 0630 GMT Dec. 14." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 September 1990. BC Cycle. Christo Johnson. "Thousands Flee Liberia as Ceasefire Starts to Look Shaky." (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 21 November 1993. "Guinea: Looking Inward for Change," p. 2066.

_____. 20 June 1993. "Guinea: Road to Democracy," pp. 996-997.