Guinea Election Campaign Opens with Major Parties Excluded

The campaign for Guinea’s upcoming presidential election began to take shape on Monday. This occurred as the deadline passed for candidates to file applications for the vote scheduled for December 28. Transitional President Mamadi Doumbouya is widely expected to enter the race, while the nation’s main political parties have been effectively sidelined from the process.

Minor Parties Submit Applications

By the Supreme Court’s deadline on Monday, four candidates representing smaller parties had submitted their applications:

• Former ministers: Ousmane Kaba and Amadou Thierno Diallo.
• Former Prime Minister: Lansana Kouyaté.
• Political Figure: Ben Youssouf Keita.

The country’s three major political entities the UFDG, RPG, and UFR were conspicuously absent from the filings. Their respective leaders were prevented from running due to factors like age restrictions or forced exile. Furthermore, prominent opposition figure Aliou Bah remains incarcerated.

New Constitution Boosts Transitional Leader

The upcoming election follows a constitutional referendum held in September. That referendum successfully approved several key changes: it extended presidential terms from five to seven years and granted legal immunity to all former presidents.

These constitutional shifts, along with new provisions allowing independent candidates, have fueled intense speculation. Many observers believe Colonel Doumbouya, who took power in a 2021 military coup, will soon announce his candidacy.

Notably, his closest associates have recently advocated for “continuity” and the maintenance of his leadership.

Credibility Concerns Surround the Vote

The December 28 election will be Guinea’s first presidential vote since the military takeover. As such, it represents a crucial test for the nation’s stated commitment to democratic transition.

However, the process is facing significant questions regarding its inclusiveness and overall credibility. These doubts stem from the exclusion of major political forces and the positioning of the transitional leader to run under new constitutional rules that clearly benefit the incumbent.

The Supreme Court now has until November 13 to finalize and publish the official list of approved candidates.

READ ALSO: Lagos Fashion Week Returns for 15th Anniversary Celebration