Economist Shakes Up Guinea’s Male-Dominated Leadership Race
- Traoré courts votes with pledge to tackle inequality, poverty
- Constitutional change cleared way for Conde to seek third term
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It’s rare for women to run for president in Guinea, where the last two elections were dominated by the same men who are vying for the presidency on Sunday.
That hasn’t stopped Makalé Traoré, 59, from trying to persuade voters to back her campaign, which has won praise locally for its clear policy proposals to reduce the uneven distribution of wealth in a country with some of the world’s largest iron-ore and bauxite reserves.
“I bring a credible governance program to the table,” Traoré said in an interview. “Women have held important positions throughout our country’s history and the fact that I’m a woman –- a competent woman -- is not an obstacle for voters.”