Guinea’s junta leader, Mamady Doumbouya, has taken a large lead in the country’s presidential election, according to initial results. Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup four years ago, had previously promised he would not run for office.
The election has been widely criticized because major opposition leaders were barred from participating and had called for a boycott.
Official results show Doumbouya winning by large margins in several parts of the country, with a reported voter turnout of eighty-five percent.
However, other candidates have complained of “serious irregularities” and “ballot stuffing,” while a citizens’ movement has disputed the high turnout figure, calling the election an “electoral charade.”
