ICC warns against Guinean violence

The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor warned Friday that warring parties in Guinea could be prosecuted after fighting erupted in the wake of high-stakes presidential elections in the west African nation.

Fresh clashes broke out Friday between Guinean forces and supporters of opposition presidential candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo as the country awaited results from the weekend election.

“We are… continuing to closely monitor developments on the ground. The violence must stop,” Fatou Bensouda said in a tweet.

“I wish to repeat this important reminder: anyone who commits, orders, incites, encourages and contributes in any other way to crimes… is liable to prosecution either by the Guinean courts or the ICC,” she said.

Preliminary results late Thursday showed a victory for incumbent President Alpha Conde, who is seeking a controversial third term in office.

But opposition candidate Diallo has claimed victory and his camp has accused the government of “large-scale fraud” in counting ballots.

Months of unrest have seen mass protests against Conde’s re-election bid violently put down, with dozens of people killed by security forces in the past year.

Since Monday, violence in cities across the country has left around 10 people dead, according to the authorities, a figure which the opposition says is much higher.

Guinea’s Independent National Electoral Commission published a provisional vote tally late Thursday, with ballots counted in 37 out of 38 constituencies.

It did not declare a winner, but results showed Conde with more than 2.4 million votes, well ahead of Diallo with 1.2 million.

Based in the Hague, the ICC is the world’s only independent tribunal dealing with the world’s worst crimes.

Set up in 2002, it’s a court of last resort and will only prosecute crimes if member countries are unable or unwilling to do so.