CONAKRY, Guinea — Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is in the West African nation of Guinea this week advising the government on how to best negotiate with mining companies as part of his Africa Governance Initiative.

In comments to reporters on Monday, Blair said his team is helping the government of Guinea access the expertise it needs to negotiate with big mining corporations.

Blair also said that he discussed the issue of Guinea’s legislative elections with President Alpha Conde, who became the country’s first democratically elected leader in 2010. The presidential race was marred by violence and the legislative elections have yet to be held.

Blair says he believes Conde is sincere in his desire to hold the legislative vote “as soon as possible.” The goal, he says, is to hold them before the end of the year.