Junta Head, Mamadi Doumbouya, Secures Presidency in Guinea’s Contested Election

Observers say the election aimed to formalize Doumbouya’s grip on power. His victory gives him a seven-year mandate.

Mamadi Doumbouya and Wife

Guinea’s military ruler, Mamadi Doumbouya, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, according to provisional results released on Tuesday.

Doumbouya, who came to power in a 2021 coup, secured about 86.72% of the vote, the General Directorate of Elections announced on Tuesday. The National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, a citizens’ coalition, denounced the process as an “electoral charade.”

The election took place amid a wave of coups and military takeovers across Africa, reflecting widespread public frustration over governance failures, insecurity, and economic hardship.

His victory had been widely anticipated, as major opposition figures were either barred from running or living in exile. With much of the opposition sidelined, the fragmented field offered no serious challengers. Several opposition leaders had also urged voters to boycott the election.

Ahead of Sunday’s vote, analysts noted that Guinea’s weakened opposition virtually guaranteed Mamadi Doumbouya’s victory, viewing the election as an attempt to legitimize his rule. The election commission reported a turnout of 80.95%, though opposition groups contested that figure. Former government minister Yero Balde finished a distant second with 6.51% of the vote.

The outcome, widely expected, grants Doumbouya a seven-year mandate under a new constitution adopted in September that also lifted a prior ban on military officers seeking public office.

Analysts and opposition leaders have dismissed the vote as a bid to legitimize Doumbouya’s continued rule, pointing out that most major opposition figures were barred or in exile, while others urged a boycott.

YAME Digital Australia