Sun Jan 18 02:59:31 UTC 2026: ### Guinea’s Doumbouya Sworn in as President After Controversial Election
The Story:
General Mamady Doumbouya, who led the 2021 military coup in Guinea, was sworn in as president on Saturday after being declared the victor in last month’s election. The event marks the first election since the military takeover that ousted President Alpha Conde. Despite initially pledging not to run, Doumbouya contested against eight other candidates, with prominent opposition figures remaining in exile and calling for a boycott.
Key Points:
- Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as President of Guinea.
- The election was the first since the 2021 military coup.
- Doumbouya received 86.7 percent of the vote, according to the Supreme Court.
- A new constitution, approved in September, allowed military leaders to run for office and extended presidential terms to seven years.
- Several heads of state and officials from African countries, China, Nigeria, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, France, and the United States attended the inauguration.
- Doumbouya justified the coup due to alleged corruption and economic mismanagement under Alpha Conde.
- He has promised to tap into Guinea’s vast natural resources to alleviate poverty, with 52 percent of the population living below the poverty line.
Key Takeaways:
- Guinea’s transition back to civilian rule remains questionable given Doumbouya’s ascent to the presidency after leading a military coup and altering the constitution.
- The presence of international representatives at the inauguration signals a level of acceptance or pragmatic engagement with the new regime, despite its controversial origins.
- Doumbouya’s focus on Guinea’s natural resources highlights the importance of economic factors in the country’s political stability and future development.
- The exile of opposition figures and crackdowns on civil liberties cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the election and Doumbouya’s commitment to democratic principles.
First Piper 