Mamady Doumbouya, the head of Guinea's junta, was elected president after securing 86.72% of the first-round vote, according to the country's election commission on Tuesday. The election occurred despite Doumbouya's earlier pledge not to run for office after seizing power in a 2021 coup.
Doumbouya, 41, ran against eight other candidates, but key opposition leaders were barred from participating and had called for a boycott of the vote held over the weekend. The opposition's absence and boycott calls raise questions about the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process.
Doumbouya initially seized power by toppling Guinea's first freely elected president in 2021. He had promised to transition the mineral-rich West African nation back to civilian rule by the end of 2024. His decision to stand in the election is viewed by some as a reversal of that commitment.
The election commission's announcement indicated that Doumbouya surpassed the threshold required to avoid a runoff vote. Further details regarding the specific number of votes cast and the breakdown of results for other candidates were not immediately available. The international community has yet to issue widespread reactions to the election results.
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