Tag: Guinea

Gen Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea, according to preliminary results from the country’s election commission, securing a decisive majority of the vote. The junta leader, who seized power in a coup four years ago, is seeking to legitimize his rule through the election. A civil society group advocating for a return to civilian governance denounced the vote as a “charade,” noting that Doumbouya’s main rivals were barred from running. Opposition figures also raised concerns about irregularities during the election. On Monday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that access to social media platforms including TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook was restricted as citizens awaited the full results. While authorities have not commented on the restrictions, critics view the move as an attempt to suppress dissent. Provisional results released on Tuesday indicated Doumbouya won 86.72% of votes cast on 28 December, well above the threshold required to avoid a runoff, granting him a seven-year term. The Supreme Court has eight days to confirm the results if any challenges are filed. Opposition candidate Faya Millimono alleged “systematic fraudulent practices,” citing incidents of poll observer expulsions, ballot stuffing, and voter intimidation. The government and ruling party have yet to respond to these allegations. After ousting then-83-year-old President Alpha Condé in 2021, Doumbouya had pledged not to contest elections and to transfer power to civilian leadership. “Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he had said at the time.