Guinea’s presidential campaign ended with last-minute rallies, highlighted by an appearance from junta leader Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, ahead of Sunday’s vote. Around 6.8 million voters will choose among nine candidates, though major opposition figures were excluded, triggering calls for a boycott. The election occurs against a background of a sustained crackdown on dissent since the 2021 coup and deep economic hardship despite rich mineral wealth.
Guinea’s Presidential Race Closes With Doumbouya Rally as Opposition Urges Boycott
Members of the Guinea Special Forces unit stand guard during the final campaign rally of Guinean President and presidential candidate Mamady Doumbouya ahead of the country's presidential election in Conakry on December 25, 2025 (PATRICK MEINHARDT)(PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP/AFP)
Guinea's presidential campaign concluded Thursday with final rallies across the capital, including a high-profile appearance by junta leader Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, as the country heads into a contentious vote this Sunday.
Final Campaign Push
Some 6.8 million eligible voters in the West African nation are scheduled to cast ballots on Sunday between 07:00 and 18:00 GMT. Voters will choose among nine candidates, including 41-year-old Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, who is standing as an independent despite his 2021 promise to hand power back to civilians.
Doumbouya’s Rally in Conakry
In Conakry on Thursday evening, Doumbouya greeted several hundred supporters, dancing in sportswear to music while flanked by members of the Special Forces — the unit he once commanded. His campaign manager and the country’s prime minister, Amadou Oury Bah, appealed to the crowd for an "overwhelming" vote so Doumbouya could "fulfil a constitutional mandate that will meet your expectations and needs."
"Fulfil a constitutional mandate that will meet your expectations and needs," — Amadou Oury Bah
Opposition Boycott and Security Concerns
The campaign unfolds amid heavy restrictions: principal opposition figures were barred from the ballot, prompting calls for a boycott from opposition parties. Human rights groups and critics point to a sustained clampdown on civil liberties since the 2021 coup, including a ban on protests imposed in 2022, arrests, prosecutions and reports of opponents going into exile or disappearing.
Other Candidates and Local Appeals
Many of the remaining candidates are relatively unknown nationally after the exclusion of major opposition leaders. Abdoulaye Yero Balde of the Democratic Front of Guinea (FRONDEG) also held a rally in Conakry, calling on voters to support him so that "the future that lies before us will be the best we have had after 67 years of independence."
Wider Context
Since gaining independence in 1958, Guinea has experienced a series of military and authoritarian governments and multiple interventions. The country is rich in mineral resources, yet faces deep poverty: World Bank figures for 2024 show more than half of Guineans live below the poverty line.
What To Watch: Voter turnout amid boycott calls, any last-minute security developments, and how the international community reacts to the vote and any post-election disputes.
