CONAKRY, Guinea — More than 90% of voters endorsed a new constitution in Guinea’s referendum, a result that could allow junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya to contest the presidency.
According to provisional figures released Monday by the Directorate General of Elections, turnout reached 91.4% across more than 80% of polling stations. Of those ballots, 90.06% were cast in favor of the new charter, while 9.04% opposed it. The referendum required at least 50% participation to be validated.
Authorities describe the vote as a milestone in Guinea’s transition from military to civilian rule. But opposition parties and rights groups condemned the process as a power grab, calling for a boycott and warning that the outcome consolidates military influence.
Doumbouya, who seized power in 2021, has not announced whether he will run in the upcoming elections. Still, the sweeping approval of the constitution is seen by many as laying the groundwork for his possible candidacy, fueling debate over the future of democracy in a region marked by repeated coups.
