Guinea’s Supreme Court has released a provisional list of nine candidates for the December 28 presidential election, marking a key step toward restoring civilian rule. Among the contenders is junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, running as an independent after leading the 2021 coup that ousted former president Alpha Condé. However, the court disqualified prominent opposition figures Lansana Kouyaté and Ousmane Kaba on technical grounds, fueling doubts about the election’s credibility. The vote follows a year-long delay from the ECOWAS-agreed transition timeline and comes amid regional instability across West Africa, where several nations remain under military rule. Meanwhile, critics argue that Doumbouya’s candidacy signals a bid to legitimize and extend his grip on power for another seven years.
AP
