Political situation in Guinea

Junta leader faces election victory after own military coup

A weakened opposition is likely to lead to victory for the military leader in Sunday's election in Guinea, Reuters reports. General Mamadi Doumbouya overthrew the country's former president in a coup in 2021 and has since implemented several reforms that have reduced democracy in the country.

Guinea has large mineral wealth and is one of the world's largest exporters of bauxite, which is used to make aluminum, among other things. Despite this, more than half of the country's population lives in poverty, writes AP.

Despite this, there is widespread hope for a return to stability after years of political unrest.

- This vote is hope for young people, especially for us unemployed people, says Idrissa Camara, a resident of Conakry, who has been unemployed since he graduated from university five years ago.

An election farce for stability: “Hope to move forward”

In Guinea, the country’s residents are awaiting the results of the first general election since the 2021 military coup, Africanews reports. Coup leader General Mamadi Doumbouya is expected to win, according to preliminary figures reported by AFP.

“After the election, I hope that the party that wins will help us develop the country so that we can move forward,” said voter Mohamed Soumah.

For many voters, the election is more about stability than about individual candidates. However, the process has been criticized for the banning of several opposition politicians from participating, as well as for the new constitution that allows the leader to serve for seven years, instead of the previous five.

“A huge majority of Guineans chose to boycott the election farce,” the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution organization said in a statement yesterday.