Mamady Doumbouya Guinea Election Winner 2025: Landslide Victory Amid Claims of Repression

He promised to step aside, but he's just secured a second act. Guinea's military leader Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president with a staggering 86.72% of the vote, according to provisional results released on December 30, 2025. While the government hails this as a return to civilian rule, opposition groups and international observers are raising alarms over the legitimacy of the process.

Mamady Doumbouya Guinea Election Winner 2025: Breaking Pledges

The 41-year-old former special forces commander took power in a 2021 coup, toppling Alpha Conde. Despite initial promises not to run for office, Doumbouya's administration oversaw a constitutional referendum in September that removed barriers for military members to contest elections. With major opposition leaders living in exile or barred from running, the December 28 poll saw a reported turnout of 80.95%, a figure contested by activists who noted low participation in the capital, Conakry.

Bauxite, Iron Ore, and Resource Nationalism

At the heart of Doumbouya's pitch is economic sovereignty. Guinea holds the world's largest bauxite reserves and the massive Simandou iron ore deposit. The president has pivoted toward resource nationalism, recently revoking a major refinery license from an Emirati firm to ensure the state benefits more directly. This strategy mirrors shifts in Mali and Niger, where military-led governments have leveraged natural resources to bolster domestic support and challenge traditional Western influence.