Guinea’s military ruler, Mamady Doumbouya, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election after securing an overwhelming majority of the votes cast.
The national electoral commission announced on Tuesday that Doumbouya polled 86.72 per cent of the votes in Sunday’s election, a result that eliminates the need for a runoff. The Supreme Court is expected to validate the outcome within eight days if no formal challenges are filed.
The victory effectively legitimises Doumbouya’s grip on power, four years after he seized control in a military coup.
Following the overthrow of former President Alpha Condé in 2021, Doumbouya had pledged not to contest elections and promised to hand over power to a civilian government.
“As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he said at the time.
However, that pledge was reversed after a new constitution adopted in September allowed him to run for the presidency, prompting him to place his name on the ballot.
Although eight other candidates participated in the election, none represented the main opposition parties, which were excluded from the process. This significantly strengthened Doumbouya’s position in the race.
On Monday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported restrictions on access to social media platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Facebook, as Guineans awaited the full announcement of results.
Civil society organisations advocating a return to civilian rule criticised the election, describing it as a “charade,” while opposition figures alleged widespread irregularities during the poll.
So far, no candidate has formally challenged the results.
The election comes amid a wave of coups and attempted takeovers across parts of Africa, where military leaders have capitalised on public frustration over insecurity, weak economies and disputed elections to seize power.
In recent months, Guinea-Bissau and Benin have also experienced coup-related upheavals.
