Guinea votes on new constitution amid fears of military power grab

Guinea is holding a long-awaited referendum on a new constitution that could allow coup leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president and transition the West African nation from military to civilian rule.

The 6.7 million eligible voters are casting a “yes” or “no” vote on a constitution that would extend the presidential term from five to seven years, renewable once, and establish a Senate with one-third of its members appointed directly by the president.

According to Al Jazeera, polls opened on Sunday with voters gathering early at stations in Conakry, where political campaigning was banned on Friday and Saturday. The government said it deployed more than 40,000 security personnel to provide security during the vote.

“People are expecting that the referendum will result in the approval of the draft constitution that some people call impressive and progressive,” Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris reported.

“However, people who are opposed to this referendum are saying it will legitimise the current military rulership to participate in the election,” Idris stated.

Critics fear the referendum could entrench military rule despite a transitional charter stating that no member of the current military government would be allowed to contest the next elections.

Doumbouya, who seized power four years ago, had pledged to return Guinea to civilian rule by December but missed the deadline. While he has not confirmed if he will run, the new constitution is widely seen as paving the way for his candidacy.

The opposition has rejected the process, with former President Alpha Conde and opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo calling for a boycott.

Both of their parties remain suspended. Human Rights Watch has accused the military government of disappearing political opponents, an allegation it denies.

The referendum is being watched closely across a region that has experienced eight coups since 2023 in West and Central Africa.

Official results are expected within two to three days, according to Idris.

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