Guinea Votes: Junta Leader Seeks Election After Coup

Polls opened across Guinea on Sunday for the country's first presidential election since a 2021 military takeover. The vote follows a coup that removed President Alpha Condé. The junta leader who seized power, Mamady Doumbouya, is now the clear frontrunner. He is one of only two candidates on the ballot. This election is intended to restore civilian rule. However, major opposition parties are boycotting the process. They accuse the junta of manipulating the transition to guarantee Doumbouya's victory. International observers are closely watching the poll. The result will determine if Guinea, a major producer of bauxite, returns to constitutional governance.