Guinea’s military ruler, Mamady Doumbouya, has been officially cleared to run in next month’s presidential election, according to a list published by the Supreme Court over the weekend, marking a dramatic reversal of his earlier pledge not to contest for power.
Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted longtime president Alpha Condé, was among nine candidates approved to run in the December 28 election. The vote is expected to mark the end of the country’s military-led transition to civilian rule.
When he took power, Doumbouya promised to restore democracy and not seek the presidency himself. However, a new constitution drafted under his administration, and approved in a September referendum, has opened the door for his candidacy.
The constitution also introduced new eligibility criteria that bar Condé and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, two of Guinea’s most prominent political figures, due to age and residency restrictions.
Doumbouya, running as an independent, submitted his candidacy last week in a move widely seen as an effort to consolidate his hold on power for another five years.
He will face a field of largely low-profile opponents, including Abdoulaye Yero Baldé, a former minister of higher education and deputy governor of the central bank, and opposition leader Faya Millimono, known for his criticism of the junta.
Former Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté’s candidacy was rejected by the court, though his party announced plans to appeal the decision.
Doumbouya’s government had earlier agreed with the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to hold elections within two years of the 2021 coup, but that timeline was missed.
The upcoming vote is now viewed as a crucial step toward restoring constitutional order in the mineral-rich but politically turbulent nation.
If elected, Doumbouya would formally transition from military ruler to civilian president, extending his leadership in a country still grappling with the legacy of repeated coups and fragile democratic institutions.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
