Guinea’s Doumbouya Schedules Constitutional Referendum for 2025

Guinea’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has scheduled a constitutional referendum for September 21, 2025, to move towards restoring civilian rule. Initially failing to meet election deadlines, Doumbouya’s regime has unveiled a draft constitution that may enable his candidacy in upcoming elections, but political opposition remains suppressed.

Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea’s military leader, has announced a constitutional referendum scheduled for September 21, 2025, which is a crucial step in the effort to restore civilian governance. This announcement was made during a televised decree on Tuesday evening. Doumbouya, who assumed power following a coup in September 2021, initially aimed for a two-year transition to elections; however, he did not meet the proposed deadline to organize a vote by December 31, 2024.

Guinea is recognized as a significant producer of bauxite and iron ore and is one of several West African nations experiencing delays in returning to democratic rule under military governments. In July 2024, the junta presented a draft constitution, potentially enabling Doumbouya to participate in the upcoming presidential election. Authorities assert that the referendum is a prerequisite for general elections or the restoration of constitutional governance.

Currently, the political landscape in Guinea is heavily restricted, with the two former ruling parties under suspension and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) monitored closely. This situation raises concerns over the state of democracy as the upcoming referendum approaches.

The announcement by Mamady Doumbouya regarding the constitutional referendum scheduled for September 2025 signifies a pivotal moment in Guinea’s political landscape, aiming to restore civilian rule after a prolonged military transition. However, the stifling of political opposition and previous delays underscore the complexities of achieving a democratic governance structure in the country.

Original Source: newscentral.africa