• Guinea holds a referendum on a new constitution that could allow military leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president.
• The new constitution proposes increasing presidential term limits and establishing a Senate.
• Opposition parties have called for a boycott, fearing the referendum will legitimize military rule.
• With 6.7 million eligible voters, the proposal requires a turnout of at least 50% to pass.
• Vote counting began Sunday evening, with results expected shortly.

Guinea is at a critical juncture as it holds a referendum on a new constitution that could allow coup leader Mamady Doumbouya to run for president, potentially altering the country's political landscape. The military-led government, which has been in power since a coup in 2021, missed its own deadline for a return to civilian rule. This referendum is viewed as a significant step toward that goal, although critics label it as a maneuver to further legitimize military governance amidst recent regional instability characterized by multiple coups in West and Central Africa, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

According to reports, voters were casting their ballots in the capital, Conakry, where more than 40,000 security personnel were deployed to ensure a secure voting environment. The proposed constitution includes provisions to extend presidential terms from five to seven years and create a Senate comprising members directly appointed by the president. Many citizens hope for a positive outcome, with some touting the document as “progressive,” while others remain wary of its implications, particularly regarding Doumbouya's potential candidacy, as stated by Africanews.

The opposition has accused the military government of attempting to manipulate the referendum outcome, having dissolved over 50 political parties and suspended three major opposition groups prior to the vote, effectively restricting their capacity to campaign. This has raised alarms about the fairness of the electoral process, as the referendum is seen by some, including opposition leaders, as a “masquerade” aimed at legitimizing a de facto coup, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.

As counting progresses after polls closed, estimates suggest that the referendum could see approval due to the anticipated absence of significant opposition mobilization. The voting body is composed of approximately 6.7 million eligible voters, and with a required turnout of at least 50% for the referendum to pass, the results will be closely watched not only within Guinea but throughout the region, reflecting broader trends in military influence in West Africa, as noted by Reuters and Africanews.