By 
As part of the European Union-funded E-MAM Project (Election Monitoring, Analysis, and Mitigation of Violence), implemented by WANEP through its Regional Office, the National Electoral Response Group (NERG)[1] was officially launched on 17 July 2025, in Conakry, Guinea. The initiative aims to prevent and mitigate electoral violence by strengthening coordination among key stakeholders in the Republic of Guinea.
Comprising civil society organisations (CSOs), public institutions, and eminent national figures, the NERG will convene periodically to monitor the electoral process ahead of the forthcoming referendum.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs Levinia Addae-Mensah, Executive Director of WANEP, underscored the importance of the initiative:
“The creation of this multi-stakeholder group marks a crucial step in ongoing efforts to prevent electoral violence and promote peace and stability in a complex and fragile context such as that of West Africa.”
The NERG forms part of the broader E-MAM Programme, implemented by WANEP in collaboration with ECOWAS, ECONEC, and UNOWAS. First launched in 2015, E-MAM reflects WANEP’s sustained commitment to reducing electoral violence by strengthening national and regional capacities for peaceful elections. The current phase is supported by the European Union through its Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) and Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI), under the Peace, Stability and Conflict Prevention thematic. It covers 12 West African countries, including Guinea.
Mrs Addae-Mensah called on the NERG to remain vigilant:
“We are fully aware that the upcoming elections in Guinea, including the announced referendum, are both moments of hope and critical vigilance. The NERG must remain proactive, rigorous, and responsive in detecting early warning signs, analysing local dynamics, and formulating actionable recommendations to prevent escalation.”
She expressed gratitude to partners—ECOWAS, UNOWAS, and the European Union—for their continued support, and to the Government of Guinea for providing an enabling environment for the initiative. She also urged NERG members to see the platform as both strategic and operational: “The success of this initiative will depend on your individual and collective commitment, your willingness to listen, and your readiness to collaborate to ensure that non-violence prevails.”
Following the launch, a capacity-building session was held for project coordinators and accountants on effective grants management. The coordinators, drawn from ten CSOs with expertise in electoral matters, will implement local-level response actions under the project.
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