General Mamady Doumbouya takes charge in controversial elections as social media restricted

The head of the Guinean junta, General Mamady Doumbouya, took a considerable lead in a presidential election in which his main opponents were barred from running, according to initial results.

General Doumbouya hopes to legitimize his rule after seizing power in a coup four years ago.

A civil society group campaigning for the return of civilian rule condemned the election as a “charade”, while opposition candidates said the vote was marred by irregularities.

On Monday, internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported that access to social media platforms TikTok, YouTube and Facebook had been restricted while Guineans waited for full results.

There has been no official comment on the restrictions, but opponents see them as an attempt by the junta to stifle criticism of the results.

General Doumbouya, 41, won more than 80% of the votes in many constituencies in the capital Conakry, according to partial official results read on television by Djenabou Touré, head of the General Directorate of Elections.

General Doumbouya also had a large advance in several other regions, notably in Boffa and Fria in the west, in Gaoual in the northwest, in the north of Koundara and Labé and in Nzérékoré in the southeast.

After overthrowing President Alpha Condé, then 83, in 2021, he promised not to run in the elections and to hand over power to a civilian.

“Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything…As soldiers, we value our word,” he said at the time.

General Doumbouya broke his promise to put his name on the ballot after a new constitution, implemented in September, allowed him to run in the elections.

Eight other candidates participated in Sunday’s elections, but excluding the main opposition parties RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG, none of the participants have a solid political base.

Although popular with much of Guinea’s youth, General Doumbouya has been criticized for restricting opposition activities, banning protests and stifling press freedom in the run-up to elections.

The general justified Condé’s dismissal on similar charges, including widespread corruption, disregard for human rights and economic mismanagement.

Guinea has the world’s largest reserves of bauxite and some of the richest iron ores. Last month, authorities launched the gigantic Simandou iron mine with great anticipation.

However, more than half the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank figures.