Guinea’s transitional leader, General Mamady Doumbouya, has been provisionally declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, according to official results released by electoral authorities, Reuters reported.

The head of the military government won the 28 December election with more than 86 per cent of the vote, securing a decisive victory in Guinea’s first presidential poll since the September 2021 coup that brought him to power. The provisional results were announced after ballots were counted from most polling stations across the country.

Electoral officials said voter turnout was above 80 per cent, with millions of registered voters taking part in the poll, Africanews reported. Doumbouya ran under the banner of the Generation for Modernity and Development (GMD) movement, defeating a small field of candidates who collectively received less than 15 per cent of the vote.

The election marks the end of a four-year transition period following the overthrow of former president Alpha Condé, who was removed from office after attempting to extend his rule. At the time of the coup, Doumbouya promised to restore constitutional order and return the country to civilian leadership, Reuters reported.

However, Guinea’s political landscape has changed significantly since then. A new constitution, approved by referendum earlier this year, allows military leaders to contest elections and extends presidential terms from five to seven years, Africanews said. The changes paved the way for Doumbouya’s candidacy despite earlier assurances that he would not run.

Opposition parties and civil society groups criticised the election environment, noting that dozens of political parties were dissolved and several prominent opposition figures were barred from participating or were living in exile, Reuters reported. Critics said these measures weakened political competition and limited voter choice.

The provisional results must still be validated by Guinea’s Supreme Court, which has several days to review any legal challenges before confirming the final outcome, according to the country’s electoral law, Reuters noted.

Doumbouya, who has led Guinea since the 2021 military takeover, now faces the task of governing a country rich in mineral resources but struggling with poverty, unemployment and political divisions, Africanews reported. His government has pledged to reform the economy and strengthen state control over key sectors, including mining.

For now, the announcement confirms Doumbouya’s transition from military ruler to elected president, marking a significant turning point in Guinea’s recent political history.