Keypoints:
- New charter extends presidential term to seven years
- Opposition boycott likely to boost approval chances
- First sovereign rating places Guinea third in West Africa
GUINEA voted on a new constitution on Sunday in a pivotal move towards ending military rule and paving the way for long-delayed elections. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0700 GMT) and were scheduled to close at 6 p.m. (1800 GMT), though authorities have not confirmed when final results will be released.
Key reforms in the draft
The proposed constitution would extend the presidential term from five to seven years, renewable once, and introduce a new Senate. One-third of senators would be appointed directly by the president, a change that supporters argue will strengthen governance but critics warn could centralise power.
Conakry, the bustling capital, reflected the campaign’s final push with white posters across neighbourhoods carrying the simple word ‘Yes’ alongside a green checkmark, signalling support for the draft.
Political stakes rise
The referendum comes as Guinea, home to the world’s largest bauxite reserves, prepares for a presidential election slated for December after missing a 2024 deadline. Interim leader Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup, has not declared whether he will run. A transition charter adopted after the takeover bars members of the military government from standing in the next election, though speculation persists about Doumbouya’s intentions.
The outcome of the vote appears all but assured as key opposition figures, former President Alpha Condé and rival Cellou Dalein Diallo, urged a boycott. Their parties remain suspended, further limiting resistance to the charter.
Rights concerns and economic signals
Amid the political manoeuvring, concerns about human rights persist. The government has denied involvement in recent disappearances of its critics but has promised investigations into the allegations.
On the economic front, Guinea received a rare boost ahead of the vote when S&P Global Ratings awarded the country its first-ever sovereign rating of B+ with a stable outlook on Thursday. The rating positions Guinea as the third best-rated economy in West Africa, an encouraging sign for investors eager to tap into its rich mineral resources.
As Guineans await the referendum results, the vote stands as a critical test of the country’s commitment to return to civilian rule and rebuild its democratic institutions after years of political upheaval.
