Wed Sep 17 07:44:59 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, written from *The Hindu*’s perspective:

**Summary:**

Guinea is holding a referendum on a new constitution that could pave the way for the current junta leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, to run for president despite initial promises to the contrary. The referendum, boycotted by the opposition who see it as a power grab, is being held four years after Doumbouya seized power. The proposed constitution includes some progressive elements, such as a High Court of Justice and gender parity provisions. However, it also includes clauses that would effectively exclude prominent opposition figures from running for office. Civil liberties have been curtailed and opposition voices silenced leading up to the vote. While the government claims the constitution addresses societal demands, critics see it as a move to solidify Doumbouya’s control.

**News Article:**

**Guinea Referendum Sparks Concerns of Junta Power Grab, Opposition Boycott**

*By The Hindu Bureau*
*Conakry, September 17, 2025*

Guinea is holding a referendum on a new draft constitution today, a move seen by critics as a calculated step by junta leader General Mamady Doumbouya to potentially extend his rule. The vote, taking place four years after Doumbouya’s military coup that ousted President Alpha Conde, has been met with a widespread boycott from the opposition, who denounce it as a thinly veiled attempt to legitimize the general’s grip on power.

While the proposed constitution includes progressive elements such as the creation of a High Court of Justice and provisions for gender parity in government, it also contains clauses that critics say are specifically designed to exclude key opposition figures from future elections. For example, candidates must be 40-80 and reside in Guinea, effectively barring the exiled Conde, 87, and opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, 73.

“Although when he took power Mr. Doumbouya was very clear that he was not going to hold on to power… it seems pretty clear (a run for office is) the direction where things are going,” Franklin Nossiter, Sahel analyst at International Crisis Group, told AFP.

International observers have raised concerns about the fairness of the process, particularly in light of the junta’s increasingly restrictive measures against dissent. Demonstrations have been banned since 2022, and several opposition leaders have been arrested, prosecuted, or forced into exile. Media outlets have also faced suspension and journalists have been arrested, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah defended the referendum, stating that the proposed constitution “has taken into account all the demands that have more or less been made by society, both political and civic” in recent decades. However, the opposition remains unconvinced, arguing that the vote is merely a facade to consolidate Doumbouya’s power.

The outcome of the referendum and the subsequent presidential and legislative elections promised by the end of the year will be crucial in determining the future of Guinea and its return to democratic governance. How many voters participate in today’s vote remains to be seen.

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