Guinea’s interim president Mamadi Doumbouya has won the country’s presidential election with 86.72 percent of the vote, according to provisional results released on Tuesday, a landslide victory made possible by a boycott from the main opposition parties.
The results, announced by the Directorate General of Elections (DGE), give Doumbouya a first-round win in a poll meant to mark a return to constitutional rule more than four years after he seized power in a military coup.
The army general, who led the overthrow of veteran president Alpha Condé in September 2021, had initially pledged not to run in the election. His candidacy and the opposition boycott, however, paved the way for an overwhelming victory that further consolidates his grip on power.
The provisional figures must now be validated by the Supreme Court, which has up to eight days to review any legal challenges and proclaim the final results.
The DGE said voter turnout reached 80.95 percent, a figure contested by opposition figures and independent observers, who have questioned the credibility of the process in the absence of major political parties.
Several opposition groups refused to take part in Sunday’s vote, denouncing what they described as a lack of transparency, restrictions on political freedoms and an uneven playing field that favoured the ruling authorities.
Faya Lansana Millimono, leader of the Liberal Bloc and one of the candidates who did contest the election, alleged irregularities during the vote and accused the authorities of “fraudulent practices”.
Despite the criticism, the electoral commission defended the conduct of the poll.
“The first round of the presidential election was conducted in accordance with constitutional principles, the provisions of the Electoral Code and Guinea’s international commitments on democracy and electoral governance,” DGE director Djénabou Touré said on Tuesday evening.
By securing more than an absolute majority, Doumbouya avoids a second-round runoff and, if confirmed, will begin a seven-year presidential term under a new constitution adopted by referendum and promulgated by him in September.
The charter, which resets presidential term limits, has been criticised by opposition figures and civil society groups, who say it was designed to legitimise the continued rule of the junta leader under a civilian guise.
Doumbouya’s victory marks the culmination of a tightly managed political transition that began after the 2021 coup, when he dissolved the constitution, suspended institutions and promised to restore democracy after sweeping reforms.
Since then, the junta has overseen a gradual return to civilian-led institutions, while maintaining firm control over political activity, the media and public demonstrations.
International and regional partners, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had pressed Guinea to organise elections and end military rule, though concerns remain over the inclusiveness and fairness of the process.
If confirmed as president, Doumbouya faces daunting economic and social challenges in one of West Africa’s poorest countries. According to the World Bank, around 52 percent of Guinea’s population lives below the poverty line, despite the country’s vast natural resources.
Guinea is the world’s largest exporter of bauxite, a key raw material for aluminium, and holds some of the richest mineral reserves in Africa. Successive governments, however, have struggled to translate that wealth into broad-based development.
Doumbouya has made the mining sector a central pillar of his economic strategy. Under his leadership, Guinea finally launched development work at Simandou, the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposit, after decades of delays caused by legal disputes, financing issues and political instability.
The project is seen as potentially transformative for the Guinean economy, with the capacity to generate billions of dollars in revenue, create jobs and fund infrastructure, if managed transparently.
The government has also pledged to move up the value chain in the bauxite sector by promoting local processing and building alumina refineries, rather than exporting raw ore. Officials say this would increase state revenues and reduce dependence on volatile commodity prices.
Critics argue that stronger institutions, respect for political freedoms and credible democratic governance will be essential if Guinea is to avoid the resource-driven inequalities that have marked its past.
As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the provisional results, Doumbouya’s opponents remain sceptical, warning that the election risks entrenching military power rather than closing the chapter on Guinea’s long history of coups and contested transitions.
For now, the general-turned-candidate appears set to rule Guinea for the next seven years, with both supporters and critics watching closely to see whether his promised reforms will translate into lasting stability and economic progress.
