Guinea’s junta chief, Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country’s election commission published on Tuesday.
Doumbouya, 41, faced eight rivals for the presidency, but the main opposition leaders were barred from running and had urged a boycott of the vote held over the weekend.
In standing, the general reneged on his initial vow not to run for office and to hand the mineral-rich but poor West African nation back to civilian rule by the end of 2024.
He secured 86.72 per cent of the first-round vote, according to the General Directorate of Elections, well over the threshold that would trigger a runoff vote.
Voter turnout stood at 80.95 percent, according to Djenabou Toure, head of the General Directorate of Elections.