Guinea's Opposition Alleges Widespread Irregularities in Recent Constitutional Referendum

Opposition Denounces Referendum Process

Guinea's recent constitutional referendum, conducted on September 21, 2025, has drawn sharp criticism from the nation's opposition parties, who allege significant irregularities throughout the voting process. The opposition, including the Liberal Bloc, has claimed that the integrity of the vote was compromised by issues such as pre-marked ballots and efforts to suppress 'no' votes. These accusations cast a shadow over the referendum, which is a key step in the country's transition from military to civilian rule.

Allegations of Electoral Misconduct

Faya Millimono, leader of the opposition Liberal Bloc, was explicit in his denunciation of the referendum. He alleged that ballots were 'pre-marked' and that thousands of other votes were 'annulled'. Furthermore, Millimono claimed that local chiefs were pressured to vote in place of citizens, aiming to suppress 'no' votes. He stated, 'This is not a constitution that can be accepted as valid.' Other opposition groups had called for a boycott of the vote, viewing it as a 'charade' with a predetermined outcome.

Government Affirms Results Amidst Controversy

Despite the widespread allegations from the opposition, Guinea's Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, affirmed the results of the referendum. Speaking on Wednesday, he characterized the outcome, which showed an overwhelming majority in favor of the new constitution, as a 'mandate of trust'. The Prime Minister indicated that these results pave the way for a return to civilian rule. Provisional results announced by the Directorate General of Elections indicated that approximately 89.38% of voters backed the proposed constitution, with a turnout of around 86.42%.

Context of Transition and Concerns

The referendum was initiated by the military junta, led by General Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup. The new constitution is designed to lengthen the presidential term from five to seven years, renewable once, and establish a Senate, with one-third of its members directly appointed by the president. Critics have widely slammed the referendum as a potential 'power grab' by Doumbouya, who has not officially stated whether he intends to run in the upcoming presidential election. The transitional charter adopted after the coup had stipulated that members of the junta would be barred from standing in future elections, but the adoption of a new constitution could potentially remove this restriction. The process has been closely monitored regionally, with the UN Human Rights Office urging for a peaceful and transparent referendum.