Guinea coup leader prepares for election

HE HAS traded in his military fatigues for civilian clothes but still rules Guinea with an iron fist: Junta leader Mamady Doumbouya intends to legitimise his rule of the west African country in presidential elections on Sunday.

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A BILLBOARD depicting Guinea President Mamady Doumbouya in Conakry. | AFP

(AFP)

Seated behind a desk wearing a white cap and T-shirt emblazoned with his name and "Building Together" campaign slogan, the 41-year-old promised "peace and stability" in a video released in early December.

It was the only public statement made by the coup leader during his campaign.

Despite his initial promise to return power to civilians when he took over in 2021, Doumbouya is running for president in an election with all the main opposition barred.

As the vote approached, Doumbouya's usual camouflage fatigues and red beret gave way to civilian clothes for his rare public appearances, always surrounded by men from the Special Forces Group, the military unit from which he hails.

It was as head of these forces that then-colonel Doumbouya stormed the presidential palace in September 2021 and ousted civilian president Alpha Conde, who had been in power for some 11 years.