Guinea’s Coup Leader Doumbouya Declared Winner of Presidential Election

Guinea’s military ruler, Mamady Doumbouya, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, according to provisional results released on Tuesday, cementing his transition from coup leader to elected president.

The electoral commission said Doumbouya secured 86.72 per cent of the vote, following polls that marked Guinea’s first national election since the 2021 military takeover that ousted former president Alpha Condé.

Doumbouya, a former special forces officer, led the campaign after overseeing the adoption of a new constitution last year, a move that cleared the way for his candidacy. Turnout was officially placed at nearly 81 per cent, though opposition figures and civil society groups questioned the credibility of the process.

Several opposition parties boycotted the election, citing restrictions on political activity, arrests of critics, and limits on media freedom. Rights groups have accused the transitional authorities of shrinking democratic space despite promises to restore civilian rule.

During the campaign, Doumbouya highlighted infrastructure spending and progress on the Simandou iron ore project, one of the world’s largest untapped mining reserves, presenting it as central to Guinea’s economic future.

Opposition leaders have indicated they may challenge the results at the Supreme Court, which is expected to validate the outcome in the coming days.

The vote is being closely watched across West Africa, where military governments have taken power in several states amid growing public frustration with civilian leadership.