Mamady Doumbouya Emerges as Frontrunner in Guinea's First Post-Coup Presidential Election
Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of Guinea's 2021 coup, is currently the frontrunner in the country's first presidential election since the coup. A referendum held in September introduced a new constitution that extended presidential terms from five to seven years, enabling Doumbouya to stand for election.
Approximately 6.7 million eligible voters are expected to participate, choosing among nine candidates including Abdoulaye Yéro Baldé and Faya Millimono. However, many opposition leaders are either detained or living in exile. The opposition coalition Forces vives de Guinée has condemned Doumbouya's candidacy, describing it as a betrayal and labeling him a "gravedigger" of democracy.
Doumbouya's government promotes the Simandou iron ore project and related infrastructure developments as markers of progress and prosperity. Guinea remains under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Meanwhile, juntas in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), highlighting the ongoing regional dynamics of military rule.
In a controversial move, Doumbouya pardoned former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, a decision criticized by human rights groups and with legal cases remaining unresolved. Should Doumbouya be elected, it will mark the first presidential vote held in a junta-ruled state since 2020.
