Guinea’s military junta has announced that a long-awaited constitutional referendum will take place on September 21st, marking a significant step towards a return to democratic governance more than three years after the country’s coup. The announcement was made by Gen. Amara Camara, the secretary-general of the presidency, in a televised address late on Tuesday. The referendum is intended to facilitate the adoption of a new constitution, which would help guide Guinea’s transition back to civilian rule.
The country has been under military rule since September 2021, when a coup ousted then-President Alpha Condé. The junta, led by Col. Mamadi Doumbouya, has governed Guinea under a military charter that suspended the constitution and delayed the return to democracy. Initially, Doumbouya set a target date of December 31 for initiating the transition but missed the deadline, leading to widespread protests and criticism from both activists and opposition groups. Following these pressures, the junta leader vowed in his New Year’s address that the constitutional referendum decree would be signed, with authorities now committing to hold all elections within this year.
While the announcement of the referendum date is seen as a positive development by some, activists and opposition leaders remain wary of the junta’s true intentions. They accuse Doumbouya of suppressing dissent, including the arrest of journalists and critics under false charges, in a bid to extend military rule and tighten his grip on power. Rights groups have raised concerns about the ongoing crackdown on civic freedoms, casting doubt on the genuineness of the transition process.