Guinea’s transitional government has unveiled a draft constitution that introduces presidential term limits and could potentially enable the current military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, to run in the next presidential election.
The draft, presented to the National Transitional Council, marks a significant step towards restoring constitutional rule in the West African nation, known for its bauxite and iron ore production.
The proposed constitution, which will be subject to a national referendum, limits the presidential term to five years, renewable once. This is a change from the previous six-year term, established under the 2020 constitution.
Notably, the draft does not explicitly prohibit members of the ruling junta from participating in future elections, leaving open the possibility of Doumbouya’s candidacy.
Former President Alpha Conde, who was ousted in a 2021 coup, would be ineligible to run due to an age limit provision.
Conde’s efforts to extend his tenure by altering the constitution in 2020 sparked significant unrest, ultimately leading to his overthrow.
While the draft constitution represents a key milestone in Guinea’s transition, the timeline for holding elections remains uncertain.
The junta initially agreed to a two-year transition period following negotiations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but progress towards organizing elections has been slow.
The new constitutional framework, if adopted, could set the stage for a return to democratic governance in the country.
