Guinea held a presidential election on Sunday widely expected to grant Mamady Doumbouya, the former coup leader, a seven-year mandate, marking a formal return to civilian rule for the West African nation.
Doumbouya, a former special forces commander in his early 40s, faced eight other candidates in a fragmented field with no strong challenger. Former President Alpha Conde and veteran opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo remain in exile.
Voting concluded at 6 p.m. local time in Conakry, where turnout appeared subdued, with some voters treating the poll as a foregone conclusion. “The most important thing is that the country returns to normal. I’m pragmatic. I voted for the one in office who ensures the continuity of the state,” shopkeeper Moussa Kaba told Reuters.
Doumbouya, dressed in a white robe and sunglasses, arrived at a Conakry polling station with his wife, flanked by armed commandos, waving to supporters. Provisional results are expected within two to three days.
Guinea is rich in minerals, hosting the world’s largest bauxite reserves and the richest untapped iron ore deposit at Simandou, whose development Doumbouya has actively promoted. This year, his government also revoked the licence of Emirates Global Aluminium’s subsidiary, Guinea Alumina Corporation, transferring the assets to a state-owned firm.
The president’s focus on resource nationalism, combined with his relative youth in a country with a median age of 19, has bolstered his popularity. “For us young people, Doumbouya represents the opportunity to send the old political class into retirement,” said Mohamed Kaba, a mechanic in Conakry.
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Analysts say a Doumbouya victory would likely consolidate military influence in Guinea. “He will likely use his position to entrench his power and that of the military, positioning allies to benefit from the economic boom expected at Simandou,” said Benedict Manzin, lead Middle East and Africa analyst at risk consultancy Sibylline.
Although a transition charter adopted after the 2021 coup initially barred junta members from running, Guineans overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in September removing that restriction, extending presidential terms to seven years, and creating a Senate. Official results claimed a 92% turnout, although opposition figures have disputed the figure.
Political debate during the campaign was limited. Civil society groups accuse Doumbouya’s administration of banning protests, curbing press freedom, and restricting opposition activities. “The campaign period has been severely restricted, marked by intimidation of opposition actors, enforced disappearances, and constraints on media freedom,” UN rights chief Volker Turk said.
Doumbouya maintained a low profile throughout the campaign, allowing party officials and supporters to promote his candidacy. At a closing rally on Thursday in Conakry, he did not speak but danced with his wife while Congolese star Koffi Olomide performed, wearing a white cap and jacket displaying the slogan of his movement: Generation for Modernity and Development.
