Guinea voted on Sunday (December 28) in a presidential election widely expected to hand Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup, a seven-year mandate, completing the West African nation's transition back to civilian rule.

Conakry

Guinea's presidential election is anticipated to result in a victory for Mamadi Doumbouya, the former Special Forces commander who led a 2021 coup. The vote is expected to grant him a seven-year mandate, completing the country's transition from military to civilian governance. 

Although Doumbouya initially pledged not to run and a previous charter barred junta members from contesting, a new constitution approved in September allowed his candidacy. While his leadership has been credited with advancing major resource projects and increasing his popularity, civil society groups have raised concerns about restrictions on protests, press freedom, and opposition activities.

Doumbouya expected to win Guinea vote four years after coup

Surrounded by armed troops and a cheering crowd, Guinea's Mamadi Dombuya arrived at a polling station on Sunday to cast his vote. The West African nation held a presidential election, widely expected to hand the former Special Forces commander a seven-year mandate and complete the nation's transition back to civilian rule. Provisional results are expected in two to three days. Dombuya, thought to be in his early 40s, seized power in a 2021 coup, overthrowing then-President Alfa Conde. He vowed not to run for office when hit of power, and a transition charter adopted after the coup barred junta members from contesting elections. But in September, Guineans overwhelmingly backed a new constitution removing that stipulation. Eight other candidates were in the running, but with no strong challenger in sight, some voters described the election as a foregone conclusion. Dombuya has claimed credit for pushing forward Guinea's massive iron ore project, and has turned the country toward resource nationalism. These moves have boosted his popularity, as has his relative youth in a country where the median age is about 19. Days before the election, one voter in Guinea's capital, Conakry, was upbeat. The Dombuya I see today is capable of selecting and giving power to someone he trusts, someone who can manage the country. And I really appreciate the way the campaign is going peacefully. Yet civil society groups accused Dombuya's government of banning protests, curbing press freedom and restricting opposition activity. The government did not respond to a request for comment.

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