Guinea’s Supreme Court has officially approved General Mamady Doumbouya’s presidential bid, handing the 2021 coup leader a clear path to swap military fatigues for a civilian mandate.
The final candidate list, released last weekend, features nine names – with Doumbouya running as an independent.
From Coup to Candidate
When Doumbouya toppled President Alpha Condé in September 2021, he publicly swore he would never stand for election. A brand-new constitution, rushed through a referendum in September 2025, quietly erased that restriction and opened the door.
Opposition Locked Out
The same rules that let Doumbouya run have conveniently disqualified his biggest rivals:
- Ex-President Alpha Condé
- Former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo
Both are now too old or fail new residency requirements.
The remaining eight challengers are mostly lesser-known figures, including:
- Abdoulaye Yero Baldé (ex-Education Minister)
- Faya Millimono (long-time junta critic)
Former PM Lansana Kouyaté was rejected outright; his party vows to fight the decision.
Election Date: 28 December
The vote is meant to end the military transition agreed with ECOWAS in 2022 – a timeline already missed by years.
If Doumbouya wins, he could stay in power until 2032.
From “I will never run” to frontrunner in four years – Guinea’s strongman just rewrote the script.
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