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After four years of military rule, a referendum in Guinea has seen voters overwhelmingly support a new constitution, with 89 percent in favour, as revealed by official provisional results announced on Tuesday evening.
The constitution sets the stage for upcoming elections in the West African nation, while also allowing General Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of the junta, the opportunity to run for president.
According to the official provisional results shared by Ibrahima Kalil Conde, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, the “yes” vote accounted for 89.4 percent of the ballots cast. Conde said that the total voter turnout reached 86.4 percent.
The Supreme Court is expected to release the final results at an undisclosed time.
Many opposition leaders, who are largely residing abroad, had urged a boycott of the vote, alleging that it was a manoeuvre to consolidate power with outcomes already decided. Despite these calls, numerous Guineans participated in the voting process, with many of those interviewed by AFP expressing that they voted in favour of advancing a new constitution.
Approximately 6.7 million Guineans, out of a total population of around 14.5 million, were eligible to cast their votes.
For the referendum, authorities deployed 45,000 members of the security forces nationwide on Sunday, along with 1,000 light and armoured vehicles and combat helicopters, as reported by the National Gendarmerie.
The military had previously committed to handing power back to civilians by the end of 2024. Though the authorities now promise to hold presidential and legislative elections by the end of the year, a specific date has yet to be announced.
The newly adopted constitution will replace the “transitional charter” that was enacted by the military government, which had barred any junta member from seeking election.
However, the new constitution imposes no such limitation, thus enabling Doumbouya to pursue a candidacy.
