By Spy Uganda
Guinea’s military leader, Gen Mamady Doumbouya, has won the country’s presidential election by a landslide, securing 86.7% of the vote, according to provisional results released by the national election commission.
The vote marks a major step in Gen Doumbouya’s bid to legitimise his rule after he seized power in a military coup in 2021.
However, the election has been strongly criticised by opposition figures and civil society groups, who have described it as a “charade”, citing the exclusion of key opposition candidates and alleged widespread irregularities.
According to the provisional tally, Abdoulaye Yero Baldé of the Democratic Front of Guinea came a distant second with 6.6% of the vote, while Faya Lansana Millimono of the Liberal Bloc finished third with 2%. Six other candidates each secured less than 2%, with Mohamed Nabe polling 0.8%.
On Monday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported restrictions on access to major social media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, as Guineans awaited the final results. Authorities have not officially commented on the reported disruptions, but opposition figures accuse the junta of attempting to suppress criticism of the outcome.
Gen Doumbouya’s victory grants him a seven-year presidential mandate. Any legal challenges must be resolved by the Supreme Court within eight days before the results are formally validated.
Millimono alleged that the election was marred by “systematic fraudulent practices”, including ballot stuffing, intimidation of voters and the expulsion of election observers. The government and ruling party have not responded to the accusations.
After overthrowing then-president Alpha Condé, who was 83 at the time, Gen Doumbouya pledged not to seek political office and promised a swift return to civilian rule.
“Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he said in 2021.
That pledge was later reversed after a new constitution adopted in September cleared the way for him to contest the presidency.
The head of the election commission, Djenabou Touré, announced voter turnout at more than 80%. However, the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution disputed the figure, claiming most Guineans had boycotted what it called an “electoral charade”.
Sunday’s election featured 11 candidates, but major opposition parties, including RPG Arc-en-Ciel and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), were barred from participating, leaving the race without a strong civilian challenger.
While Gen Doumbouya enjoys significant support among young Guineans, critics accuse his government of clamping down on opposition activity, banning protests and restricting press freedom ahead of the vote.
The junta leader justified the 2021 coup by accusing the Condé administration of corruption, human rights abuses and economic mismanagement.
Guinea holds the world’s largest reserves of bauxite and vast iron ore deposits. Last month, authorities launched the long-awaited Simandou iron ore project amid high expectations of economic transformation. Nevertheless, more than half of the country’s population continues to live in poverty, according to World Bank data.
