In a move that has drawn both anticipation and skepticism, Guinea’s Supreme Court has officially validated the candidacy of transitional military leader General Mamady Doumbouya for the country’s upcoming presidential election, scheduled for December 28, 2025. The decision, announced late Wednesday evening in Conakry, sets the stage for a pivotal vote that many hope will restore constitutional order after years of political turmoil and military rule.
According to BSS/AFP, Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in September 2021, will be joined on the ballot by eight other contenders, all of whom are little-known on the international stage. The court’s final list was winnowed down from an initial field of 51 hopefuls, including one woman, who had submitted their candidacies before the November 3 deadline. The announcement comes after months of uncertainty about whether Doumbouya, who has ruled Guinea with a firm grip and initially vowed to return power to civilians, would actually step aside or instead seek to legitimize his rule through the ballot box.
As reported by Anadolu Agency, the other candidates include Faya Lansana Millimouno, leader of the Liberal Bloc and a prominent critic of the junta; Makale Camara, a former foreign minister under the ousted President Alpha Conde; and Abdoulaye Balde. Yet, the absence of several leading opposition figures is stark. Exiled former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, former Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate, and former minister Ousmane Kaba were all excluded from the race—decisions that have fueled concerns about the openness and fairness of the electoral process. Two of Guinea’s largest opposition parties, the Rally of the People of Guinea (RPG) of former President Conde and the Union of Guinean Democratic Forces (UFDG), have also been barred from participating.
The Supreme Court’s validation of Doumbouya’s candidacy is notable for several reasons. First, the election is being organized under a new Constitution that gives the transitional leader the legal pathway to run for president—a move that critics argue was designed to benefit Doumbouya and the military elite. The 44-year-old leader, who was promoted to general in January 2024, has maintained tight control over the country since his coup, despite earlier promises to return Guinea to civilian rule. In October 2022, Doumbouya and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed to a 24-month transition period to elections, a timeline that was not honored.
Guinea’s political history is marked by cycles of authoritarian rule and military intervention. Gaining independence from France in 1958, it quickly became only the second country in sub-Saharan Africa to do so, after Ghana. Yet, the post-independence era has been tumultuous, with periods of dictatorial governance followed by successive coups. The most recent upheaval came in September 2021, when Doumbouya, then a colonel, led a group of special forces to oust President Alpha Conde, citing concerns over corruption and mismanagement. Since then, Doumbouya has ruled with what many describe as an iron fist, consolidating power and overseeing the drafting of a new Constitution that now paves the way for his possible election as president.
For many Guineans, the upcoming election represents a crossroads. On one hand, there is hope that the vote could finally restore constitutional governance and open the door to a more inclusive political future. On the other, the exclusion of key opposition figures and parties has raised alarms about the legitimacy of the process. As BSS/AFP notes, the best-known rival to Doumbouya in the race is Faya Lansana Millimouno, who has built his reputation on his vocal opposition to the junta. But with the main opposition parties sidelined, some observers fear that the election may be little more than a formality designed to entrench military rule under a civilian veneer.
The process leading up to this moment has been fraught with broken promises and shifting timelines. Doumbouya’s initial pledge to hand over power to civilians by the end of 2024 has not materialized, and the agreed-upon 24-month transition to elections was missed. Instead, the new Constitution—crafted under military oversight—has allowed Doumbouya to remain at the center of power, now as a candidate for the presidency. Critics argue that this sequence of events undermines the spirit of the transition and calls into question the credibility of the upcoming vote.
Still, the Supreme Court’s announcement has set the stage for what could be a defining moment in Guinea’s modern history. The list of nine candidates is a stark contrast to the initial field of 51, reflecting both the high level of interest in the presidency and the stringent criteria used to vet contenders. According to Anadolu Agency, the formal submissions concluded in the capital, Conakry, on November 3, with Doumbouya among the first to register his candidacy. The court’s decision to exclude high-profile opposition leaders—many of whom are either in exile or facing legal challenges—has drawn criticism from civil society groups and international observers alike.
In the absence of major opposition parties, the dynamics of the campaign are likely to be shaped by Doumbouya’s record as a military ruler and the ability of lesser-known candidates to galvanize public support. Faya Lansana Millimouno, for example, has positioned himself as a champion of democratic values and a critic of the junta’s heavy-handed tactics. Makale Camara, the only woman to make the final list, brings experience from her time as foreign minister but faces an uphill battle in a political landscape dominated by men and military figures.
Internationally, the reaction to Guinea’s electoral process has been mixed. ECOWAS, which had pushed for a rapid return to civilian rule, has yet to issue a definitive statement on the Supreme Court’s decision. The bloc previously imposed sanctions on Guinea following the 2021 coup but later eased them as the transition process got underway. Now, with the transition period extended and the military leader running for president, questions remain about the country’s commitment to democratic norms and the rule of law.
For ordinary Guineans, the stakes could hardly be higher. After years of instability, many are yearning for a return to normalcy and the chance to participate in free and fair elections. Yet, with the main opposition sidelined and the military entrenched, the path forward remains uncertain. As the December 28 election approaches, all eyes will be on Conakry to see whether Guinea can finally break the cycle of coups and strongman rule—or whether history will repeat itself once again.
This December, Guinea faces a test of its democratic resolve, with the outcome likely to shape the nation’s trajectory for years to come.
