For more than four years now, General Mamady Doumbouya has been serving as Guinea's "transitional president," having led a coup d'etat against then-President Alpha Conde on September 5, 2021. Doumbouya had originally promised to return power to civilians, but it appears that he has changed his mind, as he is now running for the election scheduled for December 28. The country's new constitution, which was adopted in September, will allow the future president to serve a seven-year term.
Guineas military rulers have suspended the country's three main opposition parties, including that of former President Alpha Conde, in the run-up to a constitutional referendum next month. The order on Saturday prevents Conde's Rally of the Guinean People, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea, led by former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and the Party of Renewal and Progress from engaging in any political activities for 90 days with immediate effect.