"Voters in Guinea have overwhelmingly backed a new constitution that could allow coup leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president if he chooses to, according to partial results. The constitution looked set to pass with 90.6 percent votes in favour and 9.4 percent against, the head of Guinea's General Directorate of Elections, Djenabou Toure, told reporters late on Monday. Those figures were based on 91 percent of the votes cast in Sunday's referendum."
"An overall figure for voter turnout was not available, but officials had counted more than 4.8 million votes out of more than 6.6 million registered voters, meaning turnout had exceeded 70 percent. Critics called the results a power grab, but the military government said the referendum paves the way for a return to civilian rule. The presidential election is currently expected to take place in December."
"Doumbouya, a 40-year-old former member of the French Foreign Legion, voted along with his wife at a health centre in Conakry, wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap with a drawing of a traditional mask symbolising fertility. He seized power in Guinea, home to the world's largest reserves of bauxite, in 2021. It was part of a wave of eight coups that swept West and Central Africa from 2020 to 2023."
A referendum in Guinea passed overwhelmingly, with partial results showing 90.6 percent in favour and 9.4 percent against based on 91 percent of ballots counted. Officials reported more than 4.8 million votes from over 6.6 million registered voters, indicating turnout above 70 percent. The military government framed the new constitution as a pathway to civilian rule, while critics called the outcome a power grab. The referendum omitted a previous charter ban on transitional officials running for office, potentially allowing coup leader Mamady Doumbouya to seek the presidency; a presidential election is expected in December.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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