Guinea

Guinea

After securing two mandates from the Guinean people through democratic elections in 2010 and 2015, former President Alpha Conde's controversial third term marked a significant shift away from the solidification of democracy in Guinea. President Conde campaigned and began his third presidential term in October 2020, but his tenure was abruptly ended by a military coup in early September 2021. This event highlighted the vulnerabilities within Guinea’s democratic framework and initiated the current transition period under the leadership of Colonel Mamady Doumbouya. 

This event occurred as the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) was concluding its Building Electoral and Accountability Capacities, Orderly Norms, and Democratic Governance (BEACON-DG) project, implemented from 2019 to 2021 in collaboration with NDI and funded by USAID. Through BEACON-DG, IFES supported the Independent National Election Commission (CENI), the judiciary, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to enhance their capacity for electoral dispute resolution. By strengthening civil society, IFES promoted democracy, dialogue, and citizen participation in partnership with the Regional Councils of the Organizations of Civil Society (CROCS). This collaboration led to the establishment of Civic and Electoral Education Centers (CECE) in Conakry’s municipalities, funded by both the European Union (EU) and the U.S. Department of State. 

IFES also spearheaded the creation of a national network of over 30 trusted civil society organizations: the Synergy of Civil Society Organizations for the Prevention of Electoral Conflicts and their Resolution (SYNCERE). Alongside other election observers, SYNCERE published an election observation statement calling for peace and social cohesion in the post-electoral period. IFES assisted SYNCERE in developing the citizen manifesto, or “Cahier Citoyen,” the first document in Guinea providing stakeholders with a roadmap for political dialogue to resolve current and prevent future election-related crises. 

In December 2022, IFES and NDI launched the Supporting the Transition and Electoral Processes in Guinea (STEP-Guinea) project, running through November 2026 and funded by the  U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This project aims to provide technical support and capacity building to the Guinean transition government and CSOs for a peaceful return to democratic rule through an inclusive reform process. This process will lead to the creation of a new constitution, an electoral law, and capacity building for the newly established EMB. Civic and voter education is another component of this project, ultimately contributing to Guinea’s return to democratic rule and supporting increased stability in the country and the subregion. 

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News and Updates Feature Fatoumata Camara Discusses Advocating for Persons with Disabilities in Guinea Fatoumata Camara, a Guinean with a physical disability, is the Deputy Coordinator for the Association of Persons Living with a Disability of Mamou, Guinea. In this Q&A, Camara discusses barriers to electoral and political participation that Guineans with disabilities face, the role of civic education in reducing those barriers and major accomplishments of the disability rights movement in Guinea.
Publication Brochure/Fact Sheet Guinea: Support Political and Electoral Processes Guinea held a legislative election on September 28, 2013, after six years of delays attributable to a variety of factors, including a military coup d’état. This election, despite being preceded by a series of violent demonstrations, was conducted peacefully, and was widely considered a positive step in Guinea’s democratic transition. Challenges persist, however, that must be addressed prior to the presidential election that is currently scheduled to take place in 2015. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) continues to struggle to demonstrate the institutional and operational capacity necessary to administer elections in a credible and transparent manner and the promotion of electoral reform is further inhibited by a generally weak understanding among citizens of democratic principles, electoral processes, and decentralization. 

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Mountaga Sylla Mountaga Sylla Country Director, Guinea

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