Guinea’s junta leader General Mamdi Doumbouya was declared the winner of the country’s first presidential election since the 2021 coup, securing 86.72% of the votes counted so far, according to the General Directorate of Elections. The vote was widely viewed as an attempt to legitimise Doumbouya’s grip on power, following years of political repression that saw opposition parties dissolved and key rivals barred or forced into exile. Voter turnout was reported at 80.95% of the 6.7 million registered voters. Despite Guinea’s vast mineral wealth, the country continues to face deep poverty and severe food insecurity, affecting nearly half of its population.