Guinea junta chief Doumbouya elected president
Guinea’s military ruler, Mamady Doumbouya, has been declared president after winning a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election, despite having earlier pledged not to seek office following his seizure of power four years ago.
Initial results released on Tuesday by the General Directorate of Elections showed that the 41-year-old secured 86.72 per cent of the votes cast in the first round, well above the margin required to avoid a runoff. The election commission reported a voter turnout of 80.95 per cent.
Doumbouya contested the election alongside eight other candidates, though key opposition figures were barred from participating under the new constitutional framework. Several opposition leaders had also called on supporters to boycott the weekend poll.
Official partial results indicated that Doumbouya dominated voting in the capital, Conakry, where he reportedly garnered more than 80 per cent of the votes in several districts. He also recorded strong performances in other regions, including Coyah near Conakry, as well as Boffa and Fria in the west, Gaoual in the northwest, Koundara and Labe in the north, and Nzerekore in the southeast.
However, the credibility of the election has been questioned by civil society groups. The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution claimed that a large number of Guineans boycotted what it described as an “electoral charade,” disputing the official turnout figures.
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Critics also raised allegations of irregularities. Presidential candidate Abdoulaye Yero Balde accused electoral authorities of serious violations, including denying his representatives access to vote-counting centres and alleged ballot stuffing in some areas. Another contender, Faya Millimono, alleged widespread “electoral banditry” and undue influence on voters.
Doumbouya came to power in September 2021 after leading a coup that overthrew Guinea’s first democratically elected president, Alpha Condé. Since then, his administration has faced criticism over restrictions on civil liberties, including bans on protests and the arrest or exile of political opponents.
In September, Guinea adopted a new constitution through a referendum that allowed members of the ruling junta to contest elections, clearing the way for Doumbouya’s candidacy. The revised constitution also extended presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once.
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Several prominent opposition figures were excluded under the new rules. Former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo was barred due to his residence in exile, while ex-president Alpha Condé and former prime minister Sidya Touré were disqualified for exceeding the newly set age limit of 80.
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