CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) – Guinea's supreme court has released a provisional list of presidential candidates for the upcoming election scheduled for December 28, 2023. The court's announcement came late Saturday, revealing a total of nine candidates who will compete in the election. Among them is junta leader General Mamadi Doumbouya, who will be running as an independent candidate.
Notably, two prominent opposition figures were excluded from the list: former prime minister Lansana Kouyaté and former government minister Ousmane Kaba. Their exclusion has raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process, as it appears to be grounded in technicalities that many observers believe to be politically motivated.
This election is viewed as a crucial moment for Guinea, marking a potential transition from military rule to a democratic government. General Doumbouya, who came to power following a coup that ousted former president Alpha Conde, had pledged to step down after overseeing a constitutional referendum that enabled him to run for the presidency. Despite these promises, many analysts predict that Doumbouya is likely to win the December election and extend his rule for an additional seven years.
Guinea is part of a broader trend in West Africa, where several nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, are currently governed by military leaders following a series of coups that began in 2020. The credibility of Guinea's upcoming election has already been questioned due to the exclusion of two significant opposition parties, casting a shadow over the legitimacy of the electoral process.
The forthcoming election comes a year later than the deadline previously agreed upon with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for holding elections. This delay has led to increasing frustration among opposition factions, prompting calls for a boycott of the country's legislative body amid fears of illegitimate electoral practices.
As the December election draws near, the political atmosphere in Guinea remains tense, with expectations high not only for the outcome but also for the potential implications it could have on the overall stability of the region. The aspirations for a democratic transition are countered by a growing skepticism about whether the elections will reflect the will of the people or merely serve to consolidate the junta's grip on power.
The situation in Guinea exemplifies the heightened political complexities in West Africa, where military takeovers have disrupted democratic governance and where upcoming elections are being closely monitored by both local and international observers. The upcoming presidential elections are set against this backdrop, raising critical questions about the future of democracy and governance in the region.
