Guinea's Transitional Authorities Present New Constitution Draft with Presidential Term Limits

In Summary

• Guinea's transitional authorities have presented a draft constitution that sets presidential term limits and may allow current military leader Mamady Doumbouya to run in the next election.
• The draft does not exclude junta members from participating in elections, potentially paving the way for Doumbouya's candidacy.
• The new constitution proposes a five-year presidential term, renewable once, replacing the previous six-year terms.
• Former President Alpha Conde, ousted in a 2021 coup, would be excluded from future elections due to an age limit.

Conakry, Guinea – Guinea's transitional authorities have introduced a draft constitution aimed at setting clear presidential term limits, marking a significant step toward the country's potential return to constitutional rule. The draft, presented on Monday, outlines a five-year presidential term renewable once, reducing the previous six-year terms established in the 2020 constitution.

This move comes nearly three years after a military coup in 2021 ousted former President Alpha Conde, who had controversially extended his stay in power by altering the constitution to run for a third term in 2020. The coup led to the rise of current military leader Mamady Doumbouya, who has since ruled the bauxite and iron ore-rich West African nation.

One of the key elements of the new draft constitution is that it does not prevent members of the ruling junta, including Doumbouya, from participating in the forthcoming presidential election. This opens the door for Doumbouya to potentially run for office, though it remains unclear when the next presidential elections will be scheduled.

The proposed constitution is expected to be put to a vote in a yet-to-be-decided national referendum. If approved, it could formalize Guinea's transition back to civilian governance after years of political instability.

Under the new constitution, former President Conde, now 86, would be barred from running for the presidency again due to an age limit. Conde's bid for a third term in 2020, which involved changing the constitution, had sparked widespread unrest and contributed to the instability that led to his eventual ousting.

The introduction of this draft constitution signals the junta's intention to set the framework for Guinea's political future, though questions remain about the timing of elections and the junta's commitment to relinquishing power.

As the country awaits further developments, the proposed changes in the constitution represent a potential turning point for Guinea as it seeks to navigate the challenges of political transition and restore democratic governance.