Guinea's Doumbouya is sworn in as president, cementing transition from junta chief to elected leader

(17 Jan 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Conakry, Guinea – 17 January 2026
1. Wide of Mamadi Doubouya’s convoy in stadium
2. Mid of people singing and dancing
3. Various of Doubouya making speech
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Aicha Sanoh, local resident:
“President Mamadi Doumbouya gave a gift (a beautiful ceremony) to all Guineans who came and attended the event. The proof was that everyone was happy. What makes me even prouder is that the crowd, who were happy and joyful to be there, didn't even want to leave.”
5. Mid of people attending the ceremony
6. Wide of traffic outside stadium
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Elhadj Bréhima Kourouma, local resident: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING+++
“We were really, really impressed. We've never seen an oath-taking ceremony like this before. It's the first time an oath has been taken in such a large stadium (in Guinea).”
8. Wide of performers in arena
STORYLINE:
Junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya was sworn in Saturday as president of Guinea after he overwhelmingly won last year's presidential election despite an earlier promise not to present himself as a candidate.

Doumbouya took power in a 2021 military coup and has run the country with an iron fist.

In December, he won the presidential election, which was held under a new constitution that revoked a ban on military leaders running for office and extended the presidential mandate from five years to seven years.

Doumbouya was accused by critics of clamping down on opposition and dissent.

On Saturday, Doumbouya took the oath of office in a brand-new 55,000-seat stadium located in the suburbs of Conakry, the capital, before an audience of African leaders and representatives of the African Union Commission and the ECOWAS Commission.

Although rich in mineral resources, half of Guinea’s 15 million population is mired in poverty and experiences record levels of food insecurity, according to the World Food Program.

The Simandou iron ore project, a 75% Chinese-owned mega mining project at the world’s largest iron deposit, has been the focal point of infrastructural and economic revitalization for the junta.

Production at the site began late last year after decades of delay.

The authorities are banking on the project to create thousands of jobs and open investments in other sectors, including education and health.

Many supporters of the president-elect attended the ceremony.

Swept up in the lively atmosphere, Elhadj Bréhima Kourouma, said: "We've never seen an oath-taking ceremony like this before. It's the first time an oath has been taken in such a large stadium."

Guinea is one of the several West African countries that have seen a coup or coup attempt since 2020.

Military officers have taken advantage of popular discontent with deteriorating security, underwhelming economies, or disputed elections to seize power.

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