Conakry, Sept. 21, 2025 — Guinea went to the polls on Sunday in a referendum on a new constitution that critics warn could cement the power of coup leader Mamady Doumbouya and his military-backed government.
The proposed constitution would extend presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once, and create a Senate with one-third of its members appointed directly by the president. Analysts say the changes could pave the way for Doumbouya to run for office despite his initial pledge not to contest future elections when he seized power in 2021.
Guinea’s junta had promised a return to civilian rule by December 2024 but missed the deadline. Presidential elections are now expected in December 2025, though uncertainty remains.
Opposition leaders Cellou Dalein Diallo and ousted former president Alpha Conde have denounced the referendum as illegitimate and urged supporters to boycott. Their parties remain suspended, and rights groups accuse the junta of silencing dissent through arrests, enforced disappearances, and media closures. The government denies involvement in disappearances but has vowed to investigate.
Voting centres opened at 7 a.m. local time and closed at 6 p.m., though no timeline for official results has been announced. In the final days of campaigning, the capital Conakry was covered in posters urging a “Yes” vote, signalling confidence among the junta’s supporters that the referendum will pass.
The vote reflects a broader regional trend in West and Central Africa, where military leaders have sought legitimacy through constitutional changes following a wave of coups between 2020 and 2023.
