Guinea Presidential Election Begins as Junta Leader Doumbouya Expected to Win | WPN World People News

Guinea, a West African nation, goes to the polls on the 28th in a presidential election widely expected to be won by incumbent junta leader Mamady Doumbouya, amid a race lacking serious challengers.

According to Reuters, Doumbouya, in his 40s, is a former special forces commander who seized power in a 2021 military coup that ousted then-president Alpha Condé. He is running in the election as an independent candidate and will nominally compete against eight other contenders. However, with no strong rivals in the race, the outcome is widely seen as a foregone conclusion.

Former president Condé and long-time opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo remain in exile. If elected, Doumbouya would begin a seven-year presidential term. His rule, however, has drawn growing scrutiny over the state of political freedoms in Guinea. Several civil society groups have accused the authorities of restricting public debate, banning demonstrations, suppressing press freedom, and narrowing the space for opposition activity.

Benedict Manzin, Middle East and Africa chief analyst at risk consultancy Sibylline, said that once formally elected, Doumbouya is likely to further leverage presidential powers to consolidate his own authority and entrench the military’s political influence in Guinea.