Guinean president pardons 17 political prisoners

Guinean President Alpha Conde has granted pardon to 17 political prisoners, according to state television. In a presidential decree read Monday night on state television, Conde announced a presidential pardon for the 17 prisoners. The step is being viewed as President Conde's first to national reconciliation in Guinea, months after last year's presidential elections. The 17 prisoners will be released later Tuesday by the minister of justice, the television said. According to the decree, the political prisoners were granted pardon due to persistent plea by their parents. All the 17 were arrested in April during a confrontation with security forces upon the return of opposition leader Celloun Dalein Daillo from abroad. They were charged by a magistrate court in Conakry with vandalism and civil disobedience and then sentenced to four to two years in prison. The pardon by President Conde came after intense pressure both at home and abroad to work to reconcile Guineans. Also on Monday night, the authorities named the chief imam of Conakry and the bishop of Conakry to head a temporal commission of reconciliation. This commission will soon meet elders in the West African country's 32 prefectures for a commencement of reconciliation in Guinea. Ali Bangura, a university lecture and political analyst, described the gesture by the president as a real statesmanship. He said this will now assure Conde's rivals of his desire to reconcile Guineans. Since winning the presidential election in November, Conde and the opposition could not see eye to eye. This has had serious repercussions on the socio-economic situation in the country, with supporters of the opposition saying they have been marginalized by the government and the government accusing them of sabotaging its efforts.