Gen. Mamady Doumbouya Claims Guinea Presidency After Disputed Vote
Gen. Mamady Doumbouya declared winner of Guinea’s contested election as opposition cries foul and capital braces for unrest.
The Soldier Who Would Be President
CONAKRY—When Gen. Mamady Doumbouya stepped out of a black SUV at the People’s Palace just after dawn, the only sound louder than the cicadas was the click of cameras. Twelve hours later, the electoral commission would crown him Guinea’s next president with 56 % of a vote the opposition is already calling a ‘coup by ballot box.’
‘We Knew the Script’
Inside the palace, aides passed around printed spreadsheets showing turnout in strongholds of Cellou Dalein Diallo had collapsed to 18 %. Outside, riot police ringed the Boulevard du Commerce. A European Union observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said monitors were refused entry to 14 % of polling stations.
‘We saw pre-marked ballots in Kindia. When we asked questions, soldiers escorted us out,’ the observer told this correspondent.
A Capital on Edge
By nightfall, young men dragged burning tires across the Route Le Prince, chanting ‘la transition n’est pas la démocratie.’ Pharmacies shuttered early; the few bars still open turned radios low. State TV looped a terse scroll: ‘The people have spoken. Respect the verdict.’ Yet even in the up-market Taouyah district, residents hoarded water and charged every phone.
- Internet speeds throttled to 2G from 14:00, according to NetBlocks.
- At least three journalists detained, press union reports.
- Opposition leaders under de-facto house arrest.
What Happens Next
West African bloc ECOWAS has called for a ‘transparent recount’; Paris and Washington urged calm but stopped short of congratulating Doumbouya. Analysts warn sanctions could push the mineral-rich nation closer to Moscow, already courting Conakry for its vast bauxite reserves. For now, Guinea waits—its future balanced between a soldier’s promise of stability and a street’s cry for a vote they feel was stolen.