Guineas Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah announced on Monday that the country will hold legislative and presidential elections in December 2025, a statement aimed at assuaging investors and observers following missed deadlines by the ruling junta since 2021.
The junta, led by military leader Mamady Doumbouya, took power in a coup in September 2021. It proposed a two-year transition to elections in 2022 but failed to organise a vote. Subsequently, the junta missed a self-imposed deadline of December 31, 2024, to return to civilian administration.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Bah stated that a constitutional referendum set for September 21, 2025, would precede the elections. He also emphasised the governments commitment to economic stability, highlighting the Simandou iron ore project in southeast Guinea, which is expected to be operational before the vote.
The referendum date, set last month, is seen as a precursor to restoring constitutional order. A draft constitution revealed in July 2024 could potentially allow Doumbouya to run in the forthcoming presidential election. Guineas two former ruling parties remain suspended, and the main opposition group, the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea UFDG, is under surveillance.
Political analyst Bangaly Fofana underscored the importance of finalising the provisional electoral register during the ongoing national census to ensure citizen participation in national ballots.
