Guinea Swears In New President Doumbouya

General Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as President of Guinea on Saturday, marking the first election in the West African country since his 2021 military takeover. The ceremony took place at the General Lansana Conte Stadium in Conakry, attended by tens of thousands of supporters and several heads of state.

Doumbouya had initially pledged not to run for president after seizing power four years ago, but ultimately stood for election against eight other candidates. His most prominent opponents remained in exile, with the opposition calling for a boycott of the poll. The Supreme Court later confirmed that Doumbouya received 86.7 percent of the vote.

During the ceremony, Doumbouya took an oath to uphold the constitution, which had recently been altered to allow him to stand. He also pledged to respect and faithfully enforce the laws and regulations. Heads of state from Rwanda, The Gambia, Senegal, and other African countries attended the event, as did officials from China, Nigeria, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, France, and the United States.

Assimi Goita, a general who has led neighboring Mali since 2020, was also in attendance. Doumbouya’s election came after Guineans approved a new constitution in September that permitted members of the military leadership to run for office. The constitution also lengthened presidential terms from five to seven years and set a two-term limit.

Doumbouya has been in power since 2021, during which time he dissolved state institutions and suspended the constitution. He has also cracked down on civil liberties, banned protests, and targeted political opponents. His government has promised to tap the country’s vast natural resources, including iron ore deposits and bauxite reserves.

The ceremony marked a significant event in Guinea’s history, with Doumbouya becoming the country’s first president since his 2021 military takeover.

Source: Al Jazeera