Guinea’s Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup, has now been sworn in as the country’s elected civilian president after winning the country’s latest presidential election, which he had earlier promised he would not contest. Since the coup, Doumbouya’s public image has undergone a calculated shift from military fatigues to tracksuits and traditional robes, projecting an accessible, action-oriented leader. While this rebranding and his popular emphasis on national sovereignty resonate with many citizens, critics condemn his democratic credentials, citing banned parties, exiled opponents, and missing activists. Doumbouya now frames his presidency around economic and political sovereignty, betting heavily on the massive Simandou iron-ore project and a resource-nationalist agenda that could reshape Guinea’s future.
BBC
