Guinea is holding its first presidential election since General Mamady Doumbouya seized power in a 2021 coup, and he is widely expected to win. Some 6.7 million registered voters were invited to cast ballots, and provisional results could be announced within two days. The opposition has urged a boycott amid allegations of restricted protests, curtailed press freedom and limits on opposition activity — concerns echoed by U.N. rights officials. A September constitutional change allowed military figures to stand and extended presidential terms from five to seven years, while resource-nationalist moves around bauxite and Simandou have bolstered Doumbouya’s appeal among some voters.
Guinea Votes in First Election Since 2021 Coup — Military Leader Widely Poised to Win
Officials set up a ballot box at a polling station in Conakry [Patrick Meinhardt/AFP]
Guinea is holding its first presidential election since the 2021 coup that brought General Mamady Doumbouya to power. Some 6.7 million registered voters were invited to cast ballots after polling stations opened at 07:00 GMT and were scheduled to close at 18:00 GMT.
The 41-year-old former special forces commander faces eight other candidates, while deposed President Alpha Condé and longtime opposition figure Cellou Dalein Diallo remain in exile. The opposition has urged a boycott of the vote, citing what it describes as a restricted political environment.
Concerns Over Fairness and Freedoms
Civil society groups and rights monitors say political debate has been muted under Doumbouya’s transition government. They accuse the authorities of banning protests, curbing press freedom and constraining opposition activity. United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk warned the campaign had been “severely restricted, marked by intimidation of opposition actors, apparently politically motivated enforced disappearances, and constraints on media freedom,” adding that these conditions risk undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
“Under Doumbouya, Guinea has effectively reverted to what it has essentially known since independence in 1958: authoritarian regimes, whether civilian or military,” said Gilles Yabi, founder of the West African think tank Wathi.
New Constitution and Political Context
A constitutional referendum in September approved changes that allowed serving military figures to stand for election and extended presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once. The opposition had urged voters to boycott that referendum.
Election authorities said provisional results could be announced within two days. Observers will be watching both turnout and the transparency of the tallying process amid boycott calls and international scrutiny.
Economy, Resources and Popular Appeal
Guinea sits on the world’s largest bauxite reserves and hosts the Simandou iron ore deposit, widely regarded as the richest untapped deposit in Africa. Doumbouya has taken credit for pushing the Simandou project forward and for policies intended to ensure Guinea captures more of the value from its mineral wealth. This year his government revoked the licence of EGA subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation after a refinery dispute and moved assets to a state-owned firm — a signal of a turn toward resource nationalism similar to trends in some neighboring countries.
Those economic moves, together with Doumbouya’s relative youth in a country with a median age of about 19, have helped his popularity among some younger voters. “For us young people, Doumbouya represents the opportunity to send the old political class into retirement,” said Mohamed Kaba, a mechanic in Conakry. Nonetheless, World Bank data show roughly 52% of Guineans live in poverty, a central concern for many voters.
What to Watch
Key issues to monitor include voter turnout amid the boycott call, the fairness and openness of campaigning and media coverage, and the transparency and timing of provisional result announcements. International observers and rights groups have warned that restrictions during the campaign could affect how the election is perceived both domestically and abroad.
