Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya was sworn in as president of Guinea after winning December's election, despite an earlier pledge not to run. The vote was held under a new constitution that lifted a ban on serving military leaders and extended presidential terms from five to seven years. The inauguration, held in a new 55,000-seat stadium in Conakry, drew regional leaders even as critics accused the government of repressing opposition. Authorities hope projects like the largely Chinese-owned Simandou mine will spur jobs and investment, but major social and economic challenges remain.
Guinea’s Doumbouya Sworn In Amid Controversy Over Coup And Constitutional Changes
Guinea's President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, arrives with his wife, Lauriane Doumbouya, to cast their votes in the presidential election in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fode Toure)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya was formally sworn in as president of Guinea on Saturday after winning last December's presidential election by a wide margin, despite earlier saying he would not run.
Doumbouya first seized power in a 2021 military coup and has since governed with a tight grip on state institutions. The vote was held under a new constitution that removed a ban on serving military leaders standing as candidates and extended the presidential term from five to seven years. Critics and rights groups say his administration suppressed opposition voices and limited dissent in the run-up to the election.
The inauguration took place in a newly built 55,000-seat stadium on the outskirts of Conakry and was attended by several African heads of state and representatives from the African Union and ECOWAS.
Inaugural Remarks
'I fully appreciate the immense responsibility that the people of Guinea have entrusted to me following the presidential election,' Doumbouya said. 'This mandate that has just been given to me is not a personal honor; it is a commitment to the Guinean people. A commitment to address the various governance challenges facing our country.'
An official holds up a ballot paper at a polling station as polls close during the presidential election in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Fode Toure)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Although Guinea is rich in mineral resources, about half of its estimated 15 million people live in poverty and many face severe food insecurity, the World Food Programme reports. The government is betting on large-scale mining projects to drive growth — notably the Simandou iron ore development, a project on the world's largest iron deposit that is 75% Chinese-owned and began production late last year after decades of delay. Officials say the project could generate thousands of jobs and attract investment in sectors such as education, health and infrastructure.
The ceremony was jubilant for many supporters. Rokiatou Kaba, a 28-year-old law student from Kankan — Doumbouya's home region — told reporters she felt Guinea was "back on the international stage" and optimistic about an economic turnaround. Others were skeptical: 26-year-old economics student Hassmiou Baldé described the event as "theater," accusing the government of sidelining genuine opposition and calling the election a "power grab."
Regional Context And Challenges Ahead
Guinea's transition fits a regional pattern: since 2020 several West African countries have experienced coups or attempted coups as military officers cite public frustration with insecurity, weak economies and contested elections. As Doumbouya begins a seven-year term, his administration faces the immediate challenge of demonstrating that political changes and mining revenues translate into tangible improvements in governance, economic opportunity and food security for ordinary Guineans.
International observers, regional bodies and rights organizations are expected to continue scrutinizing Guinea's political trajectory in the months ahead.
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