A few days after Guinea’s controversial referendum, the country’s prime minister said fresh presidential and legislative elections will take place this year.
According to official results, 89.38% of voters supported the new constitution, slightly lower than the earlier figure of 90.06%. With turnout above 86%, the proposal easily passed since it only needed 50%.
The new constitution allows junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya to run for president, even though he had once promised not to.
It also increases the presidential term from 5 to 7 years, renewable twice, and creates a Senate, with one third of its members chosen by the president.
Opposition leaders strongly disagree, accusing the government of cheating, using pre marked ballots, and stopping people from voting freely. One leader even said the results were decided before the vote took place.
