(21 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Conakry, Guinea – 21 September 2025
1. Various of men walking past a polling station
2. Various of man sitting in front of polling station
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Ibrahima Sory Diallo, 42, clothes seller:
“This new constitution, what they are doing is not pretty. They said they will respect the law of Guinea. And they have violated it. This is why I didn’t vote.”
4. Various of woman voting just before as polls close
5. Various of Thierno Saidou Diallo with friends in his neighborhood
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Thierno Saidou Diallo, 20, voter:
“I’m young. I like to have young people governing us, I think that’s good. The CNRD (National Committee of Reconciliation and Development), generally, General Mamadi Doumbouya, the current president of the republic of Guinea who took power September 5, 2021 – if I have a good memory – I like him! This speech he delivered at the beginning, I liked what he said to the Guinean population."
7. Various of street scenes
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Mamadou Diouhe Diallo, lawyer:
“No, no, no, I don’t agree, I don’t agree (with the proposed constitution). Because he promised that he wouldn’t run. He promised that he wouldn’t run. But now they’re changing it, he wants to run (for president), so I don’t agree. I’m not in agreement with this.”
9. Electoral staff as polls close
10. Electoral staff open ballot box to start counting
11. Electoral staff member looks on
12. Various of staff counting votes
13. Various of ECOWAS observer looking on as votes are counted
14. Various of electoral staff counting votes
STORYLINE:
Vote counting was underway in some polling stations in Guinea Sunday evening in the referendum on a draft constitution that could allow the leader of the country’s junta to run for the presidency.
The referendum, which is a key step in the country’s transition from military to civilian rule, is being closely monitored in the coup-battered region, with critics calling it a power grab.
Some say it is a way for General Mamadi Doumbouya, who took power by force four years ago, to seek the presidency and legitimize his military rule.
Many of Guinea’s political parties were dissolved last year, and the three main opposition parties were suspended weeks before the referendum, making it impossible for them to organize rallies and speak to the population.
The opposition called for a boycott of the vote.
Outside a polling station in the capital, Conakry, clothing seller Ibrahima Sory Diallo said he didn’t vote, because the coup leaders broke their promises of respecting the country’s laws.
Lawyer Mamadou Diouhe Diallo said he also didn’t register to vote, because the constitution would allow Doumbouya to remain in power, despite his promises that he would not do so.
But the general remains popular with much of the population, and many young people have been enamored with his vision of a prosperous, developed Guinea.
Thierno Saidou Diallo, 20, said this was the first election he could vote in, and said though he wasn’t sure the junta had kept all of their promises, he had hope for a Guinea under Doumbouya.
“I’m young. I like to have young people governing us, I think that’s good,” he said.
There are 6.7 million eligible voters and the referendum needs a turnout of at least 50% to pass.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and were expected to close at 6 p.m., though some stations extended voting time.
Elections are expected to follow in December.
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