CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) 鈥 Polls opened in Guinea on Sunday for a referendum on a draft constitution that could allow the leader of the country鈥檚 junta, who took power by force four years ago, to run for the presidency.
The referendum, a key step in the country鈥檚 transition from military to civilian rule, is being closely monitored in the coup-battered region, with critics calling it a power grab. Elections are expected to follow in December.
Guinea is one of a growing number of West African countries, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military has . Some say Sunday’s referendum is a way for Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya to seek the presidency and legitimize his military rule.
There are 6.7 million eligible voters and the referendum needs a turnout of at least 50% to pass.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and are expected to close at 6 p.m.
A campaign with the opposition missing
In the last days of the campaign, Conakry, Guinea’s capital, was buzzing with activity. There were Quran readings, reggae concerts and prayers held in support of Doumbouya. Supporters wearing T-shirts and boubous 鈥 traditional West African flowing garments 鈥 printed with Doumbouya鈥檚 face, gathered at neighborhood rallies. Only one thing was missing: the opposition.
In contrast to the festive atmosphere inside the polling stations, tanks and military barricades in the streets were a stark reminder of the junta鈥檚 rule.
Campaigning was banned on Friday and Saturday, but the referendum remained omnipresent. Public and private buildings in Conakry remained plastered with 鈥淵es” campaign billboards calling for approval of the referendum. At a concert held Friday night in one of Conakry’s bars, band members sang a song about Doumbouya, repeatedly chanting 鈥淥ui! Oui! Oui!,” or 鈥淵es! Yes! Yes!鈥 in French, the country’s official language.
Dozens of residents wearing their best clothes were lining up in central Conakry before dawn, waiting for a polling station to open.
鈥淲e came early, before the crowds come,鈥 said Albert Nabi Youlla, a 55-year-old middle school teacher. 鈥淲e are here to fulfill our civic duty,” he said, adding that the draft constitution 鈥渨orked鈥 for him.
The military regime had silenced critics and last year in a move it claimed was to 鈥渃lean up the political chessboard.鈥 Weeks before the referendum, it suspended the three main opposition parties, making it impossible for them to organize rallies and speak to the population.
Mabinty Kalabane, a 23-year-old baker, voted on Sunday for the first time. She came to the polling station in central Conakry in a golden brown dress, a gift from her mother. 鈥淚 feel proud. I feel 100% Guinean, thanks to this card,鈥 she said, referring to the voting card she held in her hand. She was going to vote 鈥測es鈥 after reading parts of the draft constitution and finding it was 鈥渋n our advantage.鈥
More than half of Guinea’s population cannot read or write, which means they only get information about the new constitution from the 鈥測es鈥 camp, said Rafiou Sow, president of the opposition Renewal and Progress Party, one of the suspended political entities, who called for the boycott of the referendum.
鈥淥ur activists and supporters have no knowledge of this constitution. The moment we were excluded, they were excluded,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e, who were supposed to help Guineans understand what is written in it, we are forbidden even to speak.鈥
Junta leader was the central figure of the campaign
When Doumbouya seized control in 2021 after ousting , he said he acted to prevent the country from slipping into chaos and chastised the previous government for broken promises.
Despite rich natural resources, over half of Guinea鈥檚 population of 15 million people is experiencing 鈥渦nprecedented levels of poverty and food insecurity,鈥 according to the World Food Program.
Doumbouya initially said he would not run for the presidency. But the draft constitution allows junta members to run for office and extends the presidential mandate from five to seven years, renewable twice.
Although Doumbouya has not spoken publicly about whether he would run in December鈥檚 election, he remains the main figure of the referendum campaign.
Tiguidank茅 Guirassy, a 20-year-old university graduate who attended a rally on Thursday evening in central Conakry, said she was 鈥渋nspired鈥 by Doumbouya to vote in favor of the constitution.
鈥淚n my neighborhood, we didn鈥檛 have roads,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ow, he took care of that, we have roads. He has made a lot of progress for Guinea and I hope he will continue on this path.鈥
Critics denounce a power grab
If adopted, the constitution would introduce several changes, including creating the Senate and allowing independent candidates to stand in the election.
Fanta Conte, a member of Guinea鈥檚 National Transition Council, said the referendum was not about Doumbouya, but about the new constitution, which would give more power to the legislative branch of government.
Analysts said that while the direction of the new constitution was good, the changes were not necessary.
鈥淲e’ve always had constitutions that enshrined balance of powers and democratic and even modern institutions,” said Kabinet Fofana, head of the Conakry-based Guinean Association of Political Sciences. 鈥淏ut the problem is not the constitution 鈥 it is rather respect (for it), its applicability, and rule of law.鈥
Critics denounced the referendum as a way to legitimize the military coup.
Since coming to power, the military junta has been tightening its grip on independent media and the opposition, according to rights organizations. Human Rights Watch accused the military regime of disappearing its opponents and silencing critical media voices. Reporters Without Borders said that journalists have faced attacks and arrests, with information sites and radio stations interrupted or suspended.
But many Guineans, disillusioned with previous regimes, have been seduced by Doumbouya’s vision of a prosperous, developed Guinea, which would finally benefit all.
鈥淲e have seen many regimes here, but since the arrival of (Doumbouya), there has been change,” said Ben Daouda Sylla, a 30-year-old lawyer. “He is doing everything possible to ensure that Guinea moves forward.鈥
