Guinea’s transitional president, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, officially registered on Monday as a candidate in the West African nation’s December 28 presidential election — despite earlier commitments made in 2021 that he would not seek to extend his rule beyond the transition period that followed his coup.
His candidacy became possible after a controversial new constitution — drafted under the military transition and approved in a September referendum — revised the rules governing who can contest for the presidency. The charter overturned a previous post-coup agreement that barred junta members from participating in the next national polls. It also introduced new eligibility conditions, including a mandatory residency requirement and a narrower age bracket of 40 to 80 years.
These reforms have effectively sidelined several major political figures, among them 87-year-old former president Alpha Condé, who has been abroad since being deposed, and influential opposition leader and former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, currently living in exile over graft accusations he rejects as politically motivated.
While Doumbouya’s candidacy is now set, it remains unclear how freely opposition groups will be able to campaign, with some civil society groups and regional observers expressing concern that the election process may not deliver a level playing field.
Other contenders have also submitted their paperwork, including former prime minister Lansana Kouyaté and former foreign minister Hadja Makalé Camara. Analysts say the race could now reshape Guinea’s political future — and determine how the country manages upcoming multi-billion-dollar investments in its strategic mineral sector.
Guinea holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves and owns the massive Simandou iron ore project — considered the richest untapped iron ore deposit globally — making political stability critical for both regional and global commodities markets.
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, bypassed Green Top School in Maya Nanziga off Masaka Road while traveling to Gomba and Butambala districts, choosing instead to focus on his campaign route. The move has drawn mixed reactions from parents, educators, and political observers.
Uganda: Bobi Wine Visits Gomba, Skips Green Top School in Maya Nanziga, Urges Pupils to
Source:Africa Publicity
