CONAKRY, Guinea — The military junta governing Guinea has scheduled a constitutional referendum for September 21, 2025, marking a potential step toward restoring democratic governance following the 2021 coup led by Col. Mamadi Doumbouya.
The announcement, made via a presidential decree read on state television, comes after the junta missed a previous deadline for initiating the transition, leading to protests and criticism from activists and opposition figures.
Despite this move, political activities in Guinea remain heavily restricted. The junta has dissolved 53 political parties and placed 67 others, including the main opposition parties—the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) and the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG)—under observation for three months. The leaders of these parties are currently in exile.
The junta has also imposed a ban on protests since 2022, with security forces using excessive force to disperse demonstrators, leading to dozens of deaths, according to rights organizations and civil society groups.
Critics argue that these actions undermine the prospects for a genuine democratic transition. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging the junta to uphold its commitments to restore civilian rule and respect human rights.
