Guinea, a West African nation with a tumultuous political history, has once again found itself at the center of controversy after provisional results showed that over 90% of voters approved a new constitution in a referendum held on September 21, 2025. The move, orchestrated by the military junta led by General Mamady Doumbouya, has been widely criticized by opposition parties and rights groups as a thinly veiled attempt to consolidate authoritarian rule and extend the junta's grip on power.
The constitutional referendum was announced amid a swirl of suspicion and tension. According to The Associated Press, the Directorate General of Elections—an entity newly created by the junta and led by two Doumbouya appointees—revealed on the evening of September 22 that 90.06% of votes cast were in favor of the proposed changes, while 9.04% were against. Voter turnout was reported at an impressive 91.4% in over 80% of polling stations, far surpassing the 50% threshold required for the referendum to pass.
The changes at stake are significant. The new draft constitution extends the presidential mandate from five to seven years, renewable twice, and establishes a Senate, with one-third of its members to be appointed directly by the president. Perhaps most controversially, the draft allows members of the junta, including Doumbouya himself, to run for president—a possibility that has set alarm bells ringing among civil society groups and opposition leaders.
General Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup on September 5, 2021, after ousting then-president Alpha Conde, has been the central figure of the referendum campaign. Despite his initial pledge not to run for the presidency, the new constitutional provisions have left the door wide open for him to do so. When asked about his intentions, Gen. Amara Camara, secretary-general to the presidency, told The Associated Press, “Today, clearly the question is about the referendum vote. When the time comes, we will talk about it.”
The run-up to the referendum was marked by a clampdown on dissent. On August 30, 2025, the regime announced on state television that the referendum campaign would be postponed by one week, with the official campaign period beginning on August 31. But participation was heavily restricted: three major political parties, including that of former president Conde, were suspended, effectively silencing the opposition before the process even began. Planned protests and demonstrations organized by opposition forces and civil society groups on September 5 were banned outright by the military rulers.
According to Bamigboye Abiodun, writing for Socialist Party of Nigeria, “The junta has moved swiftly to silence opposition voices by suspending three major political parties, including that of former president Alpha Conde. This suspension means that participation in the referendum has already been restricted and stifled even before the process begins.” The article goes on to describe the process as “far from a democratic exercise,” highlighting the repressive measures taken by the junta to control the outcome.
Opposition leaders were quick to denounce the referendum. They called on their supporters to boycott the vote, labeling it a “masquerade.” Rights organizations have accused the military regime of forcibly disappearing opponents and silencing critical media voices. Last year alone, the regime dissolved more than 50 political parties, claiming it was necessary to “clean up the political chessboard.”
Despite these restrictions, the capital city of Conakry was alive with activity in the weeks leading up to the vote. Supporters of Doumbouya organized Quran readings, reggae concerts, and prayers in his honor. Crowds gathered at neighborhood rallies, many wearing T-shirts and traditional boubous emblazoned with the general’s face. For some Guineans, Doumbouya represents hope for a better future. “We have seen many regimes here, but since the arrival of (Doumbouya), there has been change,” said Ben Daouda Sylla, a 30-year-old lawyer, to The Associated Press. “He is doing everything possible to ensure that Guinea moves forward.” Sylla cited new roads and youth recruitment into civic services as tangible improvements under the junta’s rule.
Yet, beneath the surface, disillusionment runs deep. Guinea, despite its wealth of natural resources, remains mired in poverty and food insecurity. The World Food Program has reported that more than half of the nation’s 15 million people are experiencing “unprecedented levels of poverty and food insecurity.” The constitutional crisis that began with the 2021 coup has only deepened these challenges, as the military regime has prioritized consolidating its power over addressing the country’s pressing economic and social needs.
General Doumbouya’s promise to transition to civilian rule by December 31, 2024, proved hollow. Instead, the junta has continued to unleash attacks on democratic and economic rights. The regime’s conduct in relation to the referendum—marked by the suspension of opposition parties, the banning of protests, and the imposition of strict conditions on political campaigning—has cast serious doubt on its commitment to a genuine democratic process.
For many observers, the referendum is little more than a “gimmick to consolidate authoritarian rule and legitimize the privileges of the ruling elite,” as Bamigboye Abiodun put it. The article calls for a mass movement of workers, peasants, youth, and students to oppose the junta and demand genuine democracy and socialist reforms. “What Guinea urgently requires is not pro-capitalist reforms either by the military or the civilian section of the ruling elite, but a mass movement that fights for enthronement of a genuine democratic process and also a socialist programme that speaks directly to the needs of the majority,” he wrote.
The stakes are high, not just for Guinea but for the broader West African region. In recent years, countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have also experienced military takeovers, raising concerns about a growing trend of authoritarianism on the continent. The outcome of Guinea’s constitutional referendum, and the elections that are expected to follow later this year (though no precise date has been set), will be closely watched by international observers and regional organizations alike.
As Guinea stands at this crossroads, the question remains: will the overwhelming “yes” vote in the referendum pave the way for a genuine return to civilian rule, or will it simply entrench the power of the military junta? For now, the answer seems far from clear. What is certain is that the coming months will be decisive—for Guinea’s democracy, for its people, and for the future of political transitions across West Africa.