General Mamadi Doumbouya on Monday formally submitted his candidacy for Guinea’s 28 December presidential election, reversing his earlier pledge not to contest after leading a coup in September 2021.
Doumbouya, who has served as interim president since the military takeover, now stands to extend his leadership for another seven years under a new constitution approved through a recent referendum. The revised charter permits junta members to seek office and lengthens presidential terms from five to seven years, signalling a significant shift in Guinea’s political architecture.
His bid places him alongside former Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté and former minister Ousmane Kaba, although the political field remains heavily influenced by junta control. Key opposition figures, including Cellou Dalein Diallo and Sidya Touré, have been forced into exile, and their parties are unlikely to appear on the ballot.
The ruling authorities have also established a new electoral body, with its leadership to be appointed by decree. This development situates Guinea among other West African nations, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where coup leaders have tightened their hold on power despite earlier commitments to restore democratic governance.