A/HRC/31/48 I. Introduction 1. In the present report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 28/33, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights assesses the human rights situation in Guinea in 2015, as well as the steps taken by the Government to implement the recommendations of the international human rights protection mechanisms and those made in the High Commissioner ’s previous report (A/HRC/28/50). The High Commissioner also reviews the activities of the country office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Guinea and makes recommendations to the Government and the international community. II. Main political and economic developments affecting human rights 2. On 11 October 2015, Guinea held the second democratic presidential election in its history, resulting in the re-election of Alpha Condé. 3. The run-up to the election was dominated by sharp disagreements among politicians on how the elections should be organized. During the second quarter of the year in particular, coalitions of the opposition parties, republican forces and extraparliamentary groups organized public protests to demand the reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the organization of municipal and local elections before the presidential election and the revision of the electoral lists. 4. During the second and third quarters, there were many violent incidents in the suburbs of Conakry between law enforcement officers and groups of protesters and between the President’s sympathizers and opposition supporters. As a result of the violence, the country office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Guinea tallied at least 6 civilian casualties, 2 owing to gunfire, and over 50 wounded, including 9 by gunfire. In addition, 22 law enforcement officers were injured, including 6 by homemade rifles. 5. In June 2015, in order to restore peace, politicians agreed to set up an ongoing dialogue between supporters of the President and opposition members, to be led by the Minister of Justice. The pursuit of a consensus-based solution to the political crisis was championed by the international community, especially the United Nations through the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Organization of la Francophonie, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), France and the United States of America. On 20 August 2015, the main political actors signed an agre ement on: the organization of the presidential election; the redrawing of the 128 urban and rural municipalities based on the results of the proportional list from the 2013 legislative elections; the establishment of a technical committee responsible for monitoring the electoral lists; and the partial reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission through the replacement of some commissioners from the presidential camp who had passed away with commissioners from the opposition. 6. In 2015, the Government continued its efforts to strengthen democracy, in particular by setting up the institutions provided for under the Constitution, namely the Constitutional Court, the Independent National Human Rights Institution and the High Communications Authority. It also opened competitions for public service jobs. 7. The year was also marked by the continuation of reforms undertaken in key areas identified at the end of the transition period in 2010, including justice and security GE.16-00828 3/15