Guinea military chief leads in presidential race: partial results

Guinea's transitional president and military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, who had vowed not to seek office after seizing power four years ago, is leading the presidential election held over the weekend, according to initial results released late Monday.

Doumbouya, 41, faced eight challengers, but key opposition figures were barred from contesting and had called for a boycott. By running, the general broke his earlier pledge to return the mineral-rich but impoverished West African nation to civilian rule by the end of 2024.

Partial official results broadcast on RTG public television by Djenabou Toure, head of the General Directorate of Elections, show Doumbouya winning over 80 percent of the votes in several districts of the capital, Conakry. 

He also led in other regions, including Coyah near Conakry, Boffa and Fria in the west, Gaoual in the northwest, Koundara and Labe in the north, and Nzerekore in the southeast.

Voter turnout was reported at 85 percent, though the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution, a citizens’ group advocating for civilian rule, disputed the figure, describing the election as an “electoral charade” largely boycotted by Guineans.

Doumbouya came to power in September 2021 by leading a coup that ousted Guinea's first freely elected president, Alpha Conde.