News|ElectionsGuinea votes in first polls since 2021 coup, military leader likely to winMamady Doumbouya may win amid accusations of restrictions on the media and the opposition parties.
Guinea is conducting a presidential election in which the current leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed power in a 2021 coup, is a prominent candidate. Approximately 6.7 million registered voters are expected to participate, with polling stations…
Guinea is conducting a presidential election in which the current leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed power in a 2021 coup, is a prominent candidate. Approximately 6.7 million registered voters are expected to participate, with polling stations open from 07:00 to 18:00 GMT on Sunday.
General Doumbouya, aged 41 and a former special forces commander, is contesting against eight other candidates. The previous president, Alpha Conde, and longtime opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo remain in exile. The opposition has urged a boycott of the election in a nation where over half of the population lives in poverty, as per World Bank data.
Guinea has a history of coups but achieved a democratic transition with the election of Alpha Conde in November 2010. However, he was overthrown by Doumbouya in September 2021.
Officials set up a ballot box at a polling station in Conakry [Patrick Meinhardt/AFP]
Guinea is conducting a presidential election in which the current leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed power in a 2021 coup, is a prominent candidate.
Preliminary election results are expected to be announced within two days, according to Djenabou Toure, head of the General Directorate of Elections.
Under Doumbouya, political discourse has been limited. Civil society organizations report restrictions on protests, press freedom, and opposition activities. The campaign period has faced significant constraints, including intimidation of opposition figures and limitations on media freedom, as noted by United Nations rights chief Volker Turk. These conditions could potentially affect the election's credibility.
The new constitution, approved in a September referendum, permits military leaders to run for election and extends presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once.
Guinea possesses significant natural resources, including the world's largest bauxite reserves and an untapped iron ore deposit at Simandou. Under Doumbouya's leadership, the government has advanced the Simandou project and has taken steps to nationalize resources, reflecting a broader trend of resource nationalism in the region. This approach has increased Doumbouya's popularity, especially among the youth, as the median age in Guinea is approximately 19 years.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
