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Guinea’s junta leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has been elected president after winning an overwhelming share of the vote, according to provisional results released by the country’s election commission on Tuesday.
Doumbouya, 41, who seized power in a military coup four years ago and had initially promised not to contest elections, secured 86.72 per cent of votes cast in the first round, well above the threshold required to avoid a runoff.
The General Directorate of Elections said voter turnout stood at 80.95 per cent.
The general competed against eight other candidates, but key opposition figures were barred from running under the new constitution, prompting several groups to call for a boycott of the weekend poll.
Official tallies showed Doumbouya posting strong results across the country, particularly in the capital, Conakry, where he reportedly won more than 80 per cent of votes in several districts. Similar margins were recorded in areas including Coyah, Boffa, Fria, Gaoual, Koundara, Labe and Nzerekore.
However, critics questioned the vote’s credibility. The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution said most Guineans had rejected what it described as an “electoral charade,” insisting that many voters stayed away.
Doumbouya took power in September 2021 after overthrowing President Alpha Condé, Guinea’s first democratically elected leader. Since then, his administration has restricted civil liberties, banned protests and detained or forced several opponents into exile.
A constitutional referendum approved in September paved the way for junta members to run for office and extended presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once.
The changes cleared Doumbouya’s path to the presidency.
Several prominent opposition figures, including former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, were disqualified under the new rules. In contrast, ex-president Condé and former prime minister Sidya Touré were excluded for exceeding the age limit.
