Guinea junta leader Mamady Doumbouya has been officially cleared to run in the December presidential election, heading a list of nine approved candidates released by the Supreme Court, a move that solidifies his path to potentially remain in power.
Candidate list confirmed
The list,published over the weekend, confirms Doumbouya’s candidacy after he submitted his name as an independent candidate last week.
This follows a constitutional change approved in a September referendum, which critics say was designed to reset the political clock and allow him to run. Doumbouya had initially vowed not to stand for office after leading a coup in the West African country in 2021.
Key rivals barred from race
The new constitution also effectively barred two of the country’s most prominent politicians,former President Alpha Condé and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, through age and residency requirements, removing significant challengers from the race.
Low-profile competition
Doumbouya will now compete against a field of relatively low-profile candidates. These include Abdoulaye Yero Baldé, a former minister of higher education and deputy central bank governor, and Faya Millimono, an opposition leader who has been critical of the junta.
Appeals expected
Not all prospective candidates were successful.Lansana Kouyaté, a former prime minister, had his application rejected, and his party announced on Facebook that he plans to appeal the decision.
The election, scheduled for 28 December, is intended to mark a formal transition back to civilian rule. However, Doumbouya’s government had previously negotiated a two-year transition timeline with the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States, a deadline it ultimately failed to meet. His inclusion on the ballot means the vote, while a step toward democracy, is likely to be dominated by the man who seized power by force just over three years ago.
