Guinea Votes on New Constitution Allowing Junta Leader to Run for Office
Draft constitution would allow junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president; major opposition parties banned and media restricted as vote nears.
Guineans are heading to the polls for a controversial referendum on a new constitution that would permit the country’s military ruler, Mamady Doumbouya, to contest future presidential elections.
The proposal has sparked criticism from opposition groups and rights activists, who accuse Doumbouya of trying to extend his stay in power after seizing control in a 2021 coup. His government insists the new constitution is aimed at “restoring democracy and ensuring stability.”
Major opposition parties, including Cellou Dalein Diallo’s Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) and Alpha Condé’s Rally of the Guinean People, have been suspended or banned from political activities ahead of the referendum, citing administrative or financial disclosure infractions.
Civil society organizations and rights groups accuse the government of suppressing dissent: media outlets have been shut down or suspended, opponents have reportedly been harassed or exiled, and protests have been banned.
Many citizens express skepticism about the transparency of the process. Some in opposition strongholds have said they will boycott the vote.
Security has been tightened across major cities amid fears of unrest. Opposition leaders have called for a boycott, saying the referendum is neither free nor fair.
International observers warn that the vote could deepen political tensions in Guinea, which has a history of coups and violent transitions. A positive result for Doumbouya would pave the way for him to formalize his grip on power.
Source: CNBC Africa
