Published On 4/11/2025
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Last update: 15:12 (Mecca time)
Yesterday, Monday, the President of the National Council for Rally and Development, General Mamadi Doumbouya, submitted his candidacy file for the presidential elections scheduled for December 28 before the Supreme Court in Conakry.
This step, which came amid tight security measures and a large public presence, ended months of controversy over his political intentions after he had promised in the wake of his 2021 coup to hand over power to civilians.
According to observations of local reporters, Doumbouya arrived at the headquarters of the Supreme Court in a military convoy surrounded by members of the Special Forces, without making any statement.
His supporters, who came from various neighborhoods of the capital and abroad, gathered to support him, in a scene that reflected the size of the mobilization that accompanied the announcement of his candidacy.
Notable competitors in the race
Doumbouya was not alone in the last-minute race, as Fiya Milimo, the leader of the Liberal Bloc known for his public criticism of the military authority, and Macale Camara, the former foreign minister and head of the National Alliance Front, also submitted their candidacy files.
The upcoming elections come four years after the overthrow of former President Alpha Conde, in the context of repeated promises from the military junta to end the transitional phase, and amid local and international pressure to return the country to constitutional rule.
A controversial new constitution
The controversy over Doumbouya’s intentions intensified after the constitutional referendum that took place last September, which resulted in the adoption of a new constitution that abolished the restrictions that prevented the leaders of the transitional period from running for office. The opposition described the referendum as a “theatrical play” and considered its results predetermined, accusing Doumbouya of seeking to legitimize his stay in power through the ballot boxes.
This new constitution replaced the “Transitional Period Charter” that was drawn up after the 2021 coup, and explicitly prohibited the military in power from running in elections.
Critical elections
The December 28 elections are a decisive milestone in Guinea’s modern history, as they will determine whether the country will enter a period of political stability through the return of elected institutions, or whether it will remain captive to the tensions between the military and the opposition.
While Doumbouya’s supporters believe that the man is capable of ensuring security and stability, his opponents fear that his candidacy will be the beginning of a new phase of individual rule under the guise of electoral legitimacy.