Conakry – Guinea’s prime minister on Wednesday reiterated his military government’s commitment to holding legislative and presidential elections this year, one day after authorities announced that voters had ushered in a new constitution.
On Sunday, Guineans cast ballots in a referendum on whether to adopt a new constitution that paves the way for the elections, but that also permits the country’s junta leader to run for president.
A total of 89 percent of voters in the west African nation cast ballots in favour of the constitution, according to provisional official results released late Tuesday.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah told journalists that the “mandate of confidence paves the way for the next stages of the process of returning to constitutional order” via presidential and legislative elections.
However, he did not specify a date for the vote.
Observation missions by the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) noted “that the process went smoothly”, in a joint statement Wednesday.
More than 90% of Guineans approved a constitutional referendum that could allow junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president, provisional results showed, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s transition from military to civilian rule pic.twitter.com/U54fDbNyvB
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 23, 2025
Junta leader General Mamady Doumbouya had already promised in a New Year’s address that 2025 would be a “crucial electoral year to complete the return to constitutional order”.
The “yes” vote for the new constitution won by 89.4 percent, according to the official provisional results, with a turnout of 86.4 percent.
The turnout “confirms the legitimacy of the new constitution”, Bah said, adding that it also illustrates “the reconciliation between the state and civil society”.
Final results will be announced by the Supreme Court by the end of the week, according to Bah.
Exiled former prime minister and fierce junta critic Cellou Dalein Diallo on Tuesday called the vote a “masquerade” that was aimed at “whitewashing” the 2021 coup that brought the junta to power.
Diallo and other members of the opposition had called for a boycott of the vote.
Since overthrowing civilian president Alpha Conde in 2021, junta leader Doumbouya has ruled the country with an iron fist.
Several political parties and media outlets have been suspended, demonstrations have been banned since 2022, and many opposition leaders have been arrested, sentenced or forced into exile.
Forced disappearances and kidnappings have also increased.
Guinea will vote on a new constitution that would allow junta leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president. The referendum is the latest attempt at a political transition in West and Central Africa https://t.co/pyDeHLnkBD pic.twitter.com/2COp7QP3yR
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 19, 2025
All signs point to Doumbouya running for president, despite an initial promise not to do so.
The streets of the capital Conakry were calm Wednesday morning following announcement of the results.
“We are very happy with the result”, telephone vendor Mamoudou Diop, 45, told AFP. “We really want the country to move forward”.
As for a Doumbouya candidacy, 52-year-old driver Kemo Dioubate said that he was “not against it”.
“If it’s good for Guinea, it’s good for all Guineans”, he said.
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Source: AFP
