NextFin news, Guinean citizens voted on Sunday, September 21, 2025, in a referendum on a new constitution that would allow the country's military junta leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, to run for president. The vote took place in Conakry and across the country, with approximately 6.7 million registered voters eligible to participate.
The referendum marks a critical moment four years after Doumbouya led a military coup in September 2021 that ousted elected President Alpha Condé. The new draft constitution would replace the transitional charter established by the military government, which barred junta members from standing in elections. The draft constitution removes this restriction, effectively paving the way for Doumbouya's presidential candidacy.
Security was heavily enforced during the referendum, with at least 45,000 defense and security personnel deployed nationwide, supported by armored vehicles and combat helicopters, according to the National Gendarmerie. Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. GMT and closed at 6:00 p.m., with results expected by Tuesday evening at the earliest.
The opposition boycotted the referendum, denouncing it as a "charade" designed to legitimize the junta's hold on power. Key opposition parties, including the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea and the Rally of the Guinean People, were suspended by the junta and barred from campaigning against the new constitution. Opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, currently in exile, urged citizens to boycott the vote.
The political environment leading up to the referendum was marked by restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly. Several media outlets were suspended, journalists arrested, and demonstrations banned. Human Rights Watch and ARTICLE 19 have reported arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, and media censorship under Doumbouya's government, which has denied involvement but pledged investigations.
The draft constitution includes provisions that extend the presidential term from five to seven years, renewable once, and establishes a Senate with members partly appointed by the president. It also promotes gender balance by mandating at least 30% women in decision-making and elected positions and creates a High Court of Justice to try presidents and government members to combat impunity.
However, the constitution sets candidacy eligibility criteria that exclude prominent opposition figures, such as former President Condé, aged 87 and living in exile, and Diallo, aged 73 and residing abroad. The referendum is seen by many as a step toward consolidating military rule rather than restoring democratic governance.
International bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Office and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have called for a peaceful and transparent referendum process. Guinea remains suspended from the African Union since the 2021 coup, and ECOWAS has not invited Guinea to its heads of state meetings.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah stated that the draft constitution reflects the aspirations of Guineans for change and unity. Nevertheless, skepticism and concerns about the referendum's legitimacy persist, especially in opposition strongholds where voter turnout is expected to be low.
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