Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea's military leader who seized power in a 2021 coup, has formally entered the presidential race for the country's December 28 elections. The move is seen as an effort to restore constitutional order and follow through on his initial promise not to run.
Doumbouya, 40, arrived at Guinea's Supreme Court on Monday with a retinue of special forces in an armoured vehicle, but left without giving any statements. His candidacy was made possible by the new constitution that replaced earlier arrangements agreed upon after the coup. The new charter, which was approved in September through a referendum, now allows military leaders to contest elections.
However, Doumbouya's entry into the race is being met with opposition from various quarters, including his former allies who now see him as a power-hungry individual. The Living Forces of Guinea (FVG) alliance has condemned his candidacy, calling it "a disastrous turning point in our country's history."
Guinea, one of Africa's poorest countries with 14.5 million inhabitants, has long been plagued by coups and violence from authoritarian governments. Its recent democratic transition under former President Alpha Conde was abruptly cut short when Doumbouya seized power in September 2021.
Since coming to power, Doumbouya has restricted freedoms severely, banning demonstrations and arresting opposition leaders, journalists, and media outlets. The situation is being closely watched by the international community, which is concerned about Guinea's human rights record and democratic backsliding.
Doumbouya's candidacy also faces challenges from other potential candidates, including former President Alpha Conde, who lives abroad due to corruption allegations that he denies, and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, 73, who is in exile. Other contenders, such as former Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate and former Foreign Minister Hadja Makale Camara, have submitted their applications.
As the elections approach, Guinea's future trajectory remains uncertain, with many wondering if Doumbouya's candidacy will ultimately lead to democratic reforms or further authoritarianism.
Doumbouya, 40, arrived at Guinea's Supreme Court on Monday with a retinue of special forces in an armoured vehicle, but left without giving any statements. His candidacy was made possible by the new constitution that replaced earlier arrangements agreed upon after the coup. The new charter, which was approved in September through a referendum, now allows military leaders to contest elections.
However, Doumbouya's entry into the race is being met with opposition from various quarters, including his former allies who now see him as a power-hungry individual. The Living Forces of Guinea (FVG) alliance has condemned his candidacy, calling it "a disastrous turning point in our country's history."
Guinea, one of Africa's poorest countries with 14.5 million inhabitants, has long been plagued by coups and violence from authoritarian governments. Its recent democratic transition under former President Alpha Conde was abruptly cut short when Doumbouya seized power in September 2021.
Since coming to power, Doumbouya has restricted freedoms severely, banning demonstrations and arresting opposition leaders, journalists, and media outlets. The situation is being closely watched by the international community, which is concerned about Guinea's human rights record and democratic backsliding.
Doumbouya's candidacy also faces challenges from other potential candidates, including former President Alpha Conde, who lives abroad due to corruption allegations that he denies, and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, 73, who is in exile. Other contenders, such as former Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate and former Foreign Minister Hadja Makale Camara, have submitted their applications.
As the elections approach, Guinea's future trajectory remains uncertain, with many wondering if Doumbouya's candidacy will ultimately lead to democratic reforms or further authoritarianism.
I cant even believe Mamady Doumbouya is running for president in Guinea 
! I know some ppl r opposed to him cuz he took power in 2021 but i think its awesome that hes trying to follow thru on his promise 
! The new constitution thats allowing military leaders 2 run 4 office is a big deal and i hope it brings stability 2 the country 
. But at the same time, the Living Forces of Guinea alliance says his candidacy is a "disastrous turning point" 
... idk wut 2 make of that lol 
. Anywayz, cant wait 2 see how this all plays out on Dec 28 
on one hand, he's trying to restore constitutional order and follow through on his initial promise, which could be a positive step forward 
but on the other hand, there are so many people who think he's just power-hungry and trying to cling to his position of control 
plus with all the opposition he's faced in the past, it's hard to trust him now 
i'm definitely going to be keeping a close eye on this election and seeing how it all plays out 
doumbouya seems like he's just trying to consolidate power and silence opposition 
its not ideal for democracy but at least hes putting his name out there. former president conde should really consider coming back tho 
the living forces alliance is being super dramatic as usual lol 
anyway, only time will tell if doumbouya's all about change or just more of the same 
Mamady Doumbouya is really gonna "restore constitutional order" after he basically took it over in the first place 
. And I'm sure his opponents are just being super villainous by not wanting him to be president 
. It's like, if you're a power-hungry military leader who seized power through a coup, what makes you think you're gonna magically become a benevolent leader now? 
. I'm not sure how this is gonna play out, but it's definitely gonna be interesting. Mamady Doumbouya's got some 'splainin' to do after all the freedoms he's taken away from his people 
. The fact that he's using the new constitution as an excuse for running for office just raises more questions - what about the other candidates, and how did they even get on the ballot? 
. I'm loving the drama, though - it's like the ultimate soap opera! 
But seriously, I hope he can deliver on his promises and not just use this as an excuse to cling to power. The people of Guinea deserve better 
still, i guess only time will tell what happens on december 28 
his restrictions on freedoms are already a major red flag, and now we're gonna see more of it? no thanks 
I feel like Doumbouya is kinda stuck in a tough spot. On one hand, he wants to restore order and keep his promise not to run, but on the other hand, his former allies are now against him 
I mean, Guinea has been through so much already, what's another few months gonna change? But at the same time, it would be awesome if someone who's actually got power could use it for good 
. We'll just have to wait and see how things play out 
but his record isn't great either... all those people he's arrested and banned from demos? not exactly inspiring stuff 
or is this all just a bunch of games being played out while guinea's future hangs in the balance?
.