Initial results released late Monday indicate that Guinea’s junta leader, Mamady Doumbouya, is in the lead in the presidential election conducted over the weekend, despite an earlier pledge not to seek elected office after taking power four years ago.
Doumbouya, 41, contested the election against eight other candidates. However, key opposition figures were excluded from the race under the new constitutional framework and had called on supporters to boycott the polls.
The military ruler, who seized power in 2021, had initially promised to oversee a transition back to civilian government by the end of 2024 but later reversed course to enter the presidential contest.
Partial official results announced on state broadcaster RTG by the head of the General Directorate of Elections, Djenabou Toure, showed Doumbouya securing commanding margins in several districts of the capital, Conakry, in some cases polling more than 80 percent of the vote.
Similar trends were reported in other parts of the country, including Coyah near the capital, as well as Boffa and Fria in western Guinea, Gaoual in the northwest, Koundara and Labe in the north, and Nzerekore in the southeast.
Toure said voter turnout stood at 85 percent nationwide. The figure was, however, disputed by pro-democracy groups.
The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution, a citizens’ movement advocating a return to civilian rule, said in a statement on Monday that most Guineans stayed away from what it described as an “electoral charade.”
Doumbouya came to power in September 2021 after leading a coup that removed President Alpha Conde, Guinea’s first democratically elected leader. Since then, his administration has imposed restrictions on public protests and civil liberties, with several opponents arrested, prosecuted or forced into exile.
Some candidates in the election raised concerns over the conduct of the vote. Abdoulaye Yero Balde alleged serious irregularities, including the exclusion of his representatives from vote-counting centres and instances of ballot stuffing in certain areas.
Another contender, Faya Millimono, accused authorities of what he termed “electoral banditry,” alleging undue influence on voters.
In late September, voters approved a new constitution through a referendum that allows members of the ruling junta to contest elections, clearing the way for Doumbouya’s candidacy. The constitution also extended presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once.
Prominent opposition leader and former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo was barred from contesting the election under the new rules because he resides in exile and maintains his primary residence outside Guinea.
Former president Alpha Conde and ex-prime minister Sidya Toure, both also living in exile, were similarly excluded after exceeding the constitutional age limit of 80 years.
