20101205
africanews

Guinea is to form a truth and reconciliation commission to heal the wounds of ethnic and political violence that have affected the West African country for decades.

According to Reuters, the commission will be modeled on South Africa's post-apartheid commission formed by Nelson Mandela and is likely to be well received by human rights groups.

President-elect Alpha Conde announced on state television that the move was an important step towards national reconciliation and subsequent rebuilding of the country.

Conde said the commission would enable those who have made mistakes to ask for forgiveness while those victimized can accept the forgiveness.

His address came days after Guinea's Supreme Court validated his victory in keenly contested November 7 poll that later saw over 10 persons killed and many others injured due to election violence.

The Guinea election won by Conde is said to be the country’s first free election since independence from France in 1958.