Guinea’s military ruler, General Mamady Doumbouya, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election with an overwhelming 86.7% of the vote, according to provisional results released by the national election commission.
The vote marks a major turning point for the 41-year-old army general, who seized power in a coup in September 2021 and had initially pledged to oversee a transition to civilian rule without seeking elected office himself. His victory grants him a seven-year mandate, subject to validation by Guinea’s Supreme Court within eight days.
Doumbouya’s closest challenger, Abdoulaye Yero Baldé of the Democratic Front of Guinea, secured just 6.6% of the vote, while Faya Lansana Millimono of the Liberal Bloc followed with 2%. Six other candidates each received less than 2%, highlighting the absence of strong opposition figures in the race.
Civil society groups and opposition voices have sharply criticised the election, describing it as lacking credibility. Major opposition parties, including RPG Arc en Ciel and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), were barred from participating, a move critics say undermined the competitiveness of the poll. The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution branded the vote an “electoral charade” and claimed that many Guineans boycotted the process.
Opposition candidates also alleged widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation, ballot stuffing and the expulsion of election observers. Faya Lansana Millimono accused authorities of engaging in “systematic fraudulent practices.” The government and ruling authorities have not responded publicly to these claims.
Adding to tensions, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported restrictions on access to platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok as results were being awaited. While officials have not explained the disruptions, critics view them as an attempt to limit criticism and public mobilisation.
Doumbouya’s candidacy followed the adoption of a new constitution in September, which allowed him to run despite earlier promises not to do so. After overthrowing former president Alpha Condé, he had publicly stated that neither he nor any member of the transitional government would contest future elections.
Despite criticism over political freedoms and press restrictions, Doumbouya retains support among sections of Guinea’s youth, who credit him with tackling corruption and pursuing ambitious infrastructure and mining projects. Guinea holds the world’s largest reserves of bauxite and significant iron ore deposits, including the recently launched Simandou iron ore project.
However, economic challenges remain stark. More than half of Guinea’s population continues to live below the poverty line, according to World Bank data, raising questions about whether Doumbouya’s new mandate will translate into broad-based economic improvement and inclusive governance.
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