In a significant political development for West Africa, Mamady Doumbouya has been inaugurated as Guinea’s president following a decisive electoral victory. This election, the first since his military coup in 2021, marks a pivotal moment for Guinea as it navigates a return to democratic governance amid challenges such as systemic corruption and economic distress. Doumbouya’s commitment to uphold a newly adopted constitution reflects an evolving political landscape, where the aspirations of the Guinean populace for stability and prosperity are at the forefront.
Mamady Doumbouya, the former general who led a military coup in Guinea in 2021, has been sworn in as the country’s president after being declared the victor in last month’s election. The inauguration ceremony took place in front of tens of thousands of supporters at the General Lansana Conte Stadium on the outskirts of the capital, Conakry, and was attended by numerous regional heads of state, including leaders from Rwanda, Senegal, and The Gambia.
The recent election is a historic milestone for Guinea, as it marks the first major democratic exercise since Doumbouya’s takeover, which ousted the long-time president Alpha Conde. Although Doumbouya initially promised not to seek the presidency following his ascendancy to power, he ultimately ran against eight other candidates. However, many of his most significant opponents remained in exile due to fears of retribution, and the opposition party had called for a boycott of the elections amidst concerns over fairness.
The Guinean Supreme Court later affirmed Doumbouya’s overwhelming victory at the polls, announcing that he had secured 86.7 percent of the vote. The electoral process unfolded after the population approved a new constitution last September, allowing military leaders to run for office and extending presidential terms from five to seven years, with a two-term limit put in place.
In his inaugural address, Doumbouya donned a traditional gown and took an oath to respect the revised constitution, emphasizing his commitment to the rule of law and order. “I swear before God and before the people of Guinea to respect and faithfully enforce the Constitution, the laws, regulations, and judicial decisions,” he stated during the lengthy ceremony.
Among dignitaries present were the vice presidents of China, Nigeria, and Ghana, as well as officials from France and the United States, underscoring the international interest in Guinea’s political trajectory. Notably, Assimi Goita, the military leader of neighboring Mali, was also in attendance.
The election follows an extended period in which the military dissolved key state institutions and suspended the constitution while negotiating with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a transition back to civilian governance. Doumbouya has defended the military’s actions by citing rampant corruption and economic mismanagement under Alpha Conde’s administration, which had seen Guinea elect its first president through a democratic process in 2010.
As he steps into the presidency, Doumbouya faces significant challenges, with approximately 52 percent of the population living in poverty. He has pledged to leverage Guinea’s considerable natural resources, including its extensive bauxite reserves—the largest in the world—and untapped iron ore deposits, to foster economic growth and improve the living standards of his fellow citizens.
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