Guinea's junta chief, Mamady Doumbouya, was elected president after securing 86.72% of the first-round vote, the country's election commission announced Tuesday. The election took place over the weekend, with Doumbouya facing eight rivals.
Doumbouya's candidacy marked a reversal of his earlier pledge not to seek office after leading a coup in 2021 that ousted Guinea's first freely elected president. The main opposition leaders were barred from running and had called for a boycott of the election.
Doumbouya, 41, had initially promised to return the mineral-rich West African nation to civilian rule by the end of 2024. His decision to stand in the election was met with criticism from opposition groups, who accused him of breaking his promise.
The 2021 coup occurred amid growing discontent with the previous government. Doumbouya, a former French legionnaire, capitalized on this unrest, promising to address corruption and improve governance. Since seizing power, however, Doumbouya's regime has been accused of cracking down on civil liberties.
The election commission's announcement indicated that Doumbouya surpassed the threshold required to avoid a runoff vote. The results are expected to be contested by opposition groups, given their exclusion from the electoral process and their call for a boycott. The international community is closely watching the situation in Guinea, with concerns raised about the fairness and transparency of the election. The next steps involve the formal certification of the election results and the inauguration of Doumbouya as president.
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