Politicians From Guinea

"The people are keen to see their standards of living improving. But because macroeconomic progress, including the lowering of inflation, does not really materialise in a day-to-day way for the people, there is a great deal of impatience. We have an African expression: ‘An empty stomach doesn’t have any ears’."

"It is also important to understand that when everything is a priority, it is perhaps difficult to focus on one aspect that you can demonstrate has improved, because you have to tackle everything at once. And where do you get the resources?"

"The democratic process was finalised recently with the legislative elections. So really the country has entered a new phase. It is going to be all about investment, attracting more bilateral and multilateral partners as well as the private sector. The focus of this investment will now be on youth employment and the fight against poverty. This is the priority moving forward."

"Since coming into office, the priority has been to re-establish macroeconomic stability, the normalisation of the country, and re-engaging with multilateral partners – other than the IMF and World Bank – who have not engaged with Guinea before. It has taken about two-and-a-half years to get to this level. Now we are ready to show the world that we have much to offer private investors."

"Let me correct you: this is not my third term, but my first term under the Fourth Republic, adopted by referendum. A referendum which, moreover, was not unprecedented in the history of Guinea: remember the one in November 2001 establishing a seven-year term renewable for life for President Lansana Conté, a liberty-curbing provision whose most ardent supporter at the time was a certain Cellou Dalein Diallo."

"Troublemakers sent young people armed with knives, and sometimes rifles, against the police."

"Today, under the new Constitution, the presidential term is six years, renewable only once. I have already explained why this Fourth Republic was necessary and why I decided to run in last October's presidential election. Since the two main opposition leaders were the very same ones who left Guinea in the disastrous state I found it in in 2010, it was inconceivable to me that it could fall into their hands again. As for democracy, it is a very long struggle, here as elsewhere. But it is progressing, and as you can see, the country is calm."