Conakry, Dec 28, (dpa/GNA) – More than four years after a coup, citizens in West African Guinea go to the polls to elect a president on Sunday, with the coup leader, General Mamady Doumbouya expected to win in the first round of voting.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election is planned.
Doumbouya led a military coup that overthrew then-President Alpha Condé in September 2021, and has since ruled the country of around 15 million people as transitional president.
He is running against eight challengers who are considered to have little chance of winning. The most influential opposition politician, Cellou Dalein Diallo, was excluded.
Originally, the general had pledged not to run for office. However, that changed when a new constitution was adopted in a controversial referendum in September, which also extends the president’s term of office from five to seven years. Both measures were met with sharp criticism from the opposition.
In the capital Conakry, election posters bearing Doumbouya’s face dominate the cityscape, and the general is considered popular. The overthrow of CondĂ©, who was accused of police violence and who sought another term in office despite resistance, was widely supported.
In addition, many Guineans hope for economic development, in particular through the large-scale Simandou mining project, one of the world’s most important iron ore projects, which began operations in November.
At the same time, the transitional government is accused of cracking down on protests. Several activists have been arrested in the past two years and are considered missing. Critics complain about restrictions on press freedom and obstruction of the opposition.
GNA