Code of Conduct: National Elections Part 1

In 2005 approximately 600,000 people in Guinea-Bissau were preparing to vote for their first President since a 2003 coup deposed President Koumba Yala. Tensions were high throughout the country.

The Army Chief of Staff had just been assassinated.
Former President General Joao Bernardo Vieira, who led a 1998-1999 politico-military conflict that landed him in exile in Portugal, wanted to return and run for president.
Deposed President Yala wanted to the presidency again as well.

In the midst of all this, past experience of coups and internal wars made people question whether or not their votes even mattered. History showed that access to arms determined the presidents of Guinea-Bissau more often than democratic elections.

TCGWTF used this t-shirt to promote peaceful elections and remind people that elections shape countries and futures.

The Response
The International Peace and Prosperity Project (IPPP) brought together a group of local leaders to help see the country through its internal conflict. They represented various ethnic groups and all sectors of society, including the religious community, private sector, government, and women’s and youth groups. With a grant from our Small Grants Fund, they formed an alliance called the Citizens’ Good Will Task Force (CGWTF). They came together with one goal: to bring their diverse perspectives and communities together to peacefully shape their future.

CGWTF immediately began working on how to curb violence and corruption during the elections and to foster transparency. With technical and financial support, CGWTF wrote an Elections Code of Conduct for the presidential candidates. The Code of Conduct asked the candidates to abide by the results of the election – regardless of outcome –without violence. All but one of the presidential candidates signed the Code of Conduct. CGWTF then publicized which candidates signed the Code of Conduct through media events and advertising.

Consistent with BEFORE’s model for multi-level action meant that at the same time the IPPP worked with the military to ensure that the armed forces would do its best to enforce the rule of law during the elections. With consultations from Jeffery Mapendere , former Zimbabwean freedom fighter and Carter Center Security and Rebel Specialist, and Vere Hayes, retired British Brigadier, the IPPP also helped the new Army Chief of Staff, General Tagme Na Waie, adjust to his new position of influence. See the Safeguarding Security Reform in Bissau for more information.

The Outcome
After months of hard work, the polls were safe and voter participation was high on elections day. International observers called the elections fair and free and the European Election Observers noted the important role played by civil society. An independent West African Network for Peacebuilding evaluation found the our activities to be important in the peaceful transition of power through the elections. This was the first indicator for BEFORE that the hopes for peace in Guinea-Bissau were indeed attainable.

Today the model of producing electoral codes of conduct is still being used and our contributions to elections in Bissau continue to help encourage and education voters, read more about it here.