The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

The stakes for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the coming months are very high, not only for the country but also for the region. Preparations for elections scheduled for November are inadequate, political intimidation and violence are increasing, and human rights violations continue.

President Alpha Condé was sworn in on December 3 as the Republic of Guinea’s first democratically-elected president after 50 years of authoritarian and military rule. Though richly endowed with natural resources, Guinea is one of the poorest countries in West Africa. Decades of economic mismanagement and political repression have stunted economic growth and inhibited the development of democratic practices. An assassination attempt on President Condé on July 19 vividly demonstrates the fragility of Guinea’s nascent democracy.