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 took place over the weekend, despite calls for a boycott from main opposition leaders who were barred from running.
Doumbouya, 41, faced eight rivals in the presidential race. His decision to stand for election marked a reversal of his earlier pledge not to run for office and to return the West African nation to civilian rule by the end of 2024.
Doumbouya initially seized power in a 2021 coup, ousting Guinea's first freely elected president. Since then, critics have accused him of cracking down on civil liberties. The recent election and Doumbouya's victory have raised concerns about the future of democracy in Guinea and the junta leader's commitment to transitioning to civilian rule.
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