Guinea heads to the polls on Sunday in a presidential election expected to grant former coup leader Mamadi Doumbouya a full seven-year term, in what is being portrayed as the final step in the country’s transition to civilian rule.
Doumbouya, in his early forties, is contesting the race against eight other candidates, in the absence of any strong challenger, while former president Alpha Condé and several opposition leaders remain in exile.
The transitional leader has enjoyed broad popularity, particularly among young people, driven by nationalist policies on resource management, including the launch of the Simandou iron ore project and the nationalisation of assets belonging to Guinea Alumina Corporation.
Analysts say an expected Doumbouya victory could further entrench military influence and consolidate the grip of his allies over Guinea’s economy, which is poised for significant growth as major mining projects begin production.
The election follows a constitutional referendum held in September, which approved amendments allowing Doumbouya to run and extending the presidential term, amid controversy over the credibility of the results.
