Guinea’s Coup Leader Enters Presidential Race, Breaking Pledge to Cede Power
CONAKRY, Guinea – In a move that has cast a shadow over the country’s promised return to civilian rule, General Mamadi Doumbouya, the military commander who seized power in a coup four years ago, has formally entered the presidential race for next month’s election.
Gen. Doumbouya submitted his candidacy at the Supreme Court on Monday, flanked by soldiers and wearing his trademark black sunglasses, without making any public comment. His decision directly contradicts a solemn pledge he made in 2021, when he assured the nation, “Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much.”
The election, scheduled for December, is being conducted under a new constitution that legally permits the junta leader to run for the presidency. However, the electoral process is already facing severe credibility challenges.
Two of Guinea’s most significant opposition parties, the RPG Arc en Ciel and the UFDG, have been excluded from the contest. This exclusion has raised significant concerns among observers about the fairness and inclusivity of the upcoming vote.
Further controversy surrounds the exorbitant candidacy deposit, set at 875 million Guinean francs ($100,000). While nearly as high as the previous election’s fee, many had hoped the junta would lower the barrier to foster a more competitive and historic election, especially given the country’s widespread poverty. The high cost has been criticized for effectively limiting the field of candidates.
Gen. Doumbouya came to power after ousting then-83-year-old President Alpha Condé, whom he accused of rampant corruption, human rights abuses, and economic mismanagement. Yet, his own tenure has been marked by similar criticisms.
International bodies and human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the junta for cracking down on peaceful dissent, suspending media outlets, restricting internet access, and brutally suppressing protests aimed at demanding a return to democratic rule.
The December election will proceed without several of the country’s most prominent political figures. Former President Alpha Condé, along with former Prime Ministers Cellou Dalein Diallo and Sidya Touré, all currently live in exile abroad.
As the campaign begins, Guineans are left to ponder a political future that, for many, looks less like a return to democracy and more like the consolidation of military power under a new name.
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