Guyana Elects Opposition Leader Facing US Extradition

On January 26, 2026, in a swift and highly scrutinized parliamentary session in Georgetown, Azruddin Mohamed, a 38-year-old businessman and political newcomer, was elected as Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition. The vote, which took less than five minutes according to Reuters, was marked not only by its speed but by the controversy swirling around Mohamed’s legal troubles abroad and his meteoric rise at home.

Mohamed, leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, now finds himself at the center of Guyanese politics at a time of intense national and international attention. His party, less than a year old, stunned observers by winning 16 of 65 seats in the September 2025 general election, quickly becoming the country’s principal opposition force. Monday’s vote saw 17 opposition lawmakers—16 from WIN and Amanza Walton-Desir from the Forward Guyana Movement—unanimously elect Mohamed, while the 12 members of the APNU+ coalition abstained and left the meeting after the nomination, as reported by Stabroek News.

The drama of the day was heightened by the fact that Mohamed’s election comes as he faces extradition proceedings to the United States on a raft of federal charges. U.S. prosecutors allege that Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, used their gold exporting firm, Mohamed’s Enterprise, to commit fraud, launder money, and defraud the Guyanese government. The charges, which include gold smuggling, money laundering, wire and mail fraud, bribery, and tax evasion, were brought after the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the family in 2025 for allegedly smuggling over 10,000 kilograms (22,000 pounds) of gold to the U.S. and evading more than $50 million in taxes, according to The Guardian.

Both Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed, who were indicted in Florida, deny any wrongdoing. They were briefly detained in October 2025 and are now contesting the extradition proceedings in a Guyanese magistrate’s court. The family, once among the country’s largest gold buyers and exporters, also ran a prominent foreign exchange outlet and held extensive real estate. After the U.S. sanctions, Guyanese authorities shuttered all of their businesses and froze their commercial bank accounts, drastically altering their financial and social standing.

Despite these legal headwinds, Mohamed’s ascent to opposition leader was met with a mix of celebration and controversy. Supporters from WIN gathered outside Parliament, only to be asked to disperse as police erected barriers, Stabroek News reported. Inside, the process was tightly controlled: independent media outlets were barred from entering the chamber, with only the state-owned National Communications Network granted full access to broadcast the proceedings. This move drew criticism from civil society groups and Western observers, who accused authorities of limiting transparency during a pivotal political moment.

After his election, Mohamed addressed the chamber with a call for unity and constructive debate. "The process was very smooth. No hiccups. No delay. In less than five minutes, I was elected leader of the opposition, ready to serve the people of this country," he told journalists, as quoted by Reuters. He emphasized the need for Parliament to become a forum for intelligent debate, stating, "Unity means working together, even when we disagree in the interest of our nation. Where government policies work for the people the opposition will support them. Where they do not we will oppose them firmly, responsibly and without fear."

Mohamed also invoked Guyana’s long history of political division, referencing the schism between the Cheddi Jagan-led People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Forbes Burnham’s PPP, which he said led to a prolonged era of racial politics that continues to affect the country today. In his remarks, he urged all Members of Parliament to remember their oath to serve every citizen, not just their own supporters, and called for responsible opposition that prioritizes national interest over partisan squabbles.

Yet not everyone in Parliament was at ease with the day’s outcome. Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, openly expressed his discomfort, describing himself as being in a "difficult position" for having to oversee the appointment of a fugitive as opposition leader. Nevertheless, Nadir chaired the session, congratulated Mohamed, and invited him to the Speaker’s Chambers for further remarks, as detailed by The Guardian.

The Guyanese government, for its part, has argued that Mohamed’s legal predicament could cast a shadow over the legislature, warning that his appointment may taint the body’s reputation. Importantly, Mohamed’s new political role does not grant him immunity from extradition—his fate will ultimately be decided by the courts, not the parliamentary chamber.

Mohamed, for his part, has framed the legal actions against him as politically motivated, asserting that his prosecution is a direct result of his successful challenge to the ruling PPP. "A person is innocent until proven guilty," he insisted to reporters outside Parliament. "I announced my candidacy because of the people of this country. The people asked me. I would not have had any court issues if I did not contest this election. I am ready to serve the people of this country."

The path to Mohamed’s election was not without controversy beyond the courtroom. Civil society groups and international observers had accused authorities of dragging their feet in reconvening Parliament for the opposition leader’s election, with Monday’s session being only the second since the legislative body was dissolved in July ahead of the general election. The brief and exclusive nature of the proceedings—attended only by opposition lawmakers—added to the sense of urgency and tension that has characterized Guyanese politics in recent months.

For many in Guyana, Mohamed’s rapid rise is both a symbol of the changing political landscape and a reflection of enduring challenges. The WIN party’s swift ascent, the consolidation of opposition votes, and the abstention of the APNU+ bloc highlight shifting alliances and the fractious nature of parliamentary politics. Meanwhile, the legal saga surrounding Mohamed and his father underscores persistent concerns about corruption, governance, and the rule of law in the oil-rich South American nation.

As Guyana grapples with its newfound oil wealth and the growing pains of rapid economic transformation, the story of Azruddin Mohamed—a businessman-turned-politician facing international indictment—has come to embody the intersection of ambition, controversy, and the ongoing struggle for political legitimacy. Whether Mohamed’s tenure as opposition leader will mark a new chapter of reform or further deepen the country’s divisions remains to be seen, but for now, the eyes of Guyana—and the world—are watching closely.