CONAKRY: At least half a million Guineans joined a massive opposition rally in Conkary on Tuesday to denounce alleged economic mismanagement and corruption by the government of President Alpha Conde.

Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) leader Cellou Dalein Diallo said 700,000 people had joined a 15-kilometre (9.3-mile) procession from the suburbs to the 28 Septembre stadium in the west African nation’s capital.

Security forces said the numbers were closer to 500,000.

Supporters of several opposition parties gathered for the event, shouting “Alpha resign, Alpha that’s enough, students unemployed, we want jobs,” brandishing placards reading “death to dictatorship.”

Diallo hailed the huge turnout and said it proved the “rejection of dictatorship and poor governance of Mr Alpha Conde.”

Diallo blamed Conde’s government specifically for mishandling the massive Simandou iron ore project in the south of the country managed by British-Australian firm Rio Tinto, which he said meant Guineas could miss out on “decent jobs”.—AFP