Guinea's transitional government leader Mamady Doumbouya is poised to secure a decisive victory in Sunday's presidential election, marking a critical step in the country's return to civilian governance four years after his 2021 coup. Polling stations opened nationwide at 7 a.m. local time, with approximately 6.7 million registered voters casting ballots under tight security.
Doumbouya, a former special forces commander running as an independent, faces eight challengers in an election marked by the absence of major political heavyweights. Former president Alpha Condé and opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo remain exiled, while electoral authorities barred several prominent figures from participating. Provisional results are anticipated within 72 hours.
The election concludes a closely managed transition process that began when Doumbouya ousted Condé in September 2021, pledging to end decades of authoritarian rule. Observers note the vote's significance for regional stability in West Africa, where military takeovers have resurged in recent years. Critics, however, question the fairness of a process that sidelined key opposition voices.
