From Coup to Commander-in-Chief: Guinea’s Doumbouya Undermines Democracy Under the Guise of Progress

When Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya took the oath as president of Guinea this past Saturday, it was not just a ceremonial transfer of power — it was the final act in a scripted consolidation of autocracy framed as democratic progress. Having seized control in a 2021 military coup, Doumbouya defied his own promise not to run; instead, he manipulated constitutional changes to extend presidential terms and erase barriers blocking military rulers from commandeering civilian offices.Is This Democracy or a Military Power Grab Disguised?Doumbouya’s election victory, described by some as overwhelming, masks the reality on the ground: opposition voices were silenced under...