You Won't Believe What Just Happened: Doumbouya Takes Control as Guinea's Shocking New President!

Mamady Doumbouya, a general who led a military takeover in Guinea in 2021, has been officially sworn in as the president of the West African nation. The ceremony took place on January 18, 2026, at the General Lansana Conte Stadium in Conakry, witnessed by tens of thousands of supporters and international dignitaries, including heads of state from Rwanda, The Gambia, and Senegal, as well as officials from China, Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States.

Doumbouya's ascension follows his victory in Guinea’s first election since the military coup four years ago, where he received an overwhelming 86.7 percent of the votes. Despite initially pledging not to run for president after the coup that ousted former President Alpha Conde, he ultimately participated in the election against eight other candidates. However, many of his significant opponents were in exile, with the opposition coalition actively calling for a boycott of the election.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Doumbouya took an oath to uphold the constitution, which had been amended to allow military members to run for office. "I swear before God and before the people of Guinea, on my honour, to respect and faithfully enforce the Constitution, the laws, regulations and judicial decisions," he declared. This new constitution was approved by voters in September 2025, and it extended presidential terms from five to seven years, while also establishing a two-term limit.

Doumbouya justified the military takeover by citing rampant corruption and economic mismanagement under Conde, who had been Guinea’s first democratically elected president since the country gained independence in 1958. Over the past four years, the military government dissolved state institutions and suspended the constitution while negotiating with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on a return to democratic governance.

However, Doumbouya's regime has faced criticism for its crackdown on civil liberties, which included banning protests and targeting political opponents. With approximately 52 percent of the population living in poverty, he has promised to leverage Guinea's vast natural resources, which include significant iron ore deposits and the world’s largest reserves of bauxite, to improve the country’s economic situation.

The international community is closely monitoring Guinea’s transition as Doumbouya's presidency marks a crucial period for the nation. The legitimacy of the election, the political landscape moving forward, and the potential for economic development all hang in the balance as the country navigates this new chapter in its governance.