In a landmark electoral moment, Guinea's military leader General Mamady Doumbouya has been declared the winner of the nation's presidential election, capturing an impressive 86.72 percent of votes cast.

The election, held over the weekend, marks Guinea's first national vote since Doumbouya's 2021 coup that removed previous president Alpha Conde from power, signaling a potentially significant political transition.

Electoral officials reported that 80.95 percent of the country's 6.7 million registered voters participated, with Doumbouya's nearest competitor, Yero Balde, securing just 6.51 percent of the vote. Balde, a former education minister in Conde's government, was positioned as a distant second-place candidate.

The election process has been characterized by significant political constraints, with more than 50 political parties dissolved and major opposition candidates either banned or in exile. Analysts had widely anticipated Doumbouya's victory due to the systematically weakened opposition landscape.

Critics argue that the election was primarily designed to legitimize Doumbouya's continued governance, pointing to the narrowed field of candidates and stringent electoral restrictions. The junta leader has been accused of clamping down on dissent and political competition during the transition period.

Despite the controversial circumstances, the election represents a procedural step in Guinea's complex political journey, offering a structured pathway toward potential democratic normalization in the wake of military intervention.