Mamady Doumbouya Sworn in as Guinea's President Amid Controversy

Mamady Doumbouya, the general who led Guinea's 2021 military coup, has officially been sworn in as the country’s president. The inauguration ceremony took place on Saturday before tens of thousands of supporters and numerous foreign dignitaries, including several African heads of state. This event follows Doumbouya’s victory in last month’s election, the first since he overthrew former President Alpha Condé four years ago.

Although Doumbouya initially pledged not to seek the presidency after seizing power, he later ran for office against eight other candidates. However, many of his most prominent opponents remained in exile, and the opposition called for a boycott of the election. Guinea’s Supreme Court eventually confirmed that Doumbouya won with 86.7 percent of the vote.

Dressed in a traditional gown, Doumbouya took an oath to uphold the constitution—which had recently been amended to allow him to run for office—during a lengthy ceremony at the General Lansana Conté Stadium on the outskirts of Conakry. “I swear before God and before the people of Guinea, on my honor, to respect and faithfully enforce the Constitution, the laws, regulations, and judicial decisions,” Doumbouya declared. The event was attended by leaders from Rwanda, The Gambia, Senegal, and other African nations, as well as vice presidents from China, Nigeria, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea. Representatives from France and the United States were also present.

The election followed the approval of a new constitution in September, which permitted military leaders to run for office and extended presidential terms from five to seven years, with a two-term limit. Doumbouya defended the 2021 coup by citing alleged corruption and economic mismanagement under Condé, who had become Guinea’s first democratically elected president in 2010. After taking power, the military dissolved state institutions, suspended the constitution, and engaged in negotiations with regional organizations like ECOWAS to facilitate a return to civilian rule.

Despite Doumbouya’s promises to improve the lives of Guineans, over 52 percent of the population lives in poverty. He has pledged to harness the country’s vast natural resources, including untapped iron ore deposits and the world’s largest reserves of bauxite. However, his administration is expected to face significant challenges related to human rights abuses and the consolidation of democratic governance.