Guinea reiterates promise for presidential election

Guinea's prime minister on Wednesday reiterated the transitional government's commitment to holding legislative and presidential elections this year, one day after authorities announced that voters had ushered in a new constitution.

On Sunday, Guineans cast ballots in a referendum on whether to adopt a new constitution that paves the way for the elections. It also permits the country's transitional president to run for president.

A total of 89% of voters in the West African nation cast ballots in favour of the constitution, according to provisional official results released late on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah told journalists that the "mandate of confidence paves the way for the next stages of the process of returning to constitutional order" via presidential and legislative elections.

'Legitimacy of new constitution'

However, he did not specify a date for the vote.

Transitional president General Mamady Doumbouya had already promised in a New Year's address that 2025 would be a "crucial electoral year to complete the return to constitutional order."

The "yes" vote for the new constitution won by 89.4%, according to the official provisional results, with a turnout of 86.4%.

The turnout "confirms the legitimacy of the new constitution", Bah said, adding that it also illustrates "the reconciliation between the state and civil society."

Supreme Court to announce final results

Final results will be announced by the Supreme Court by the end of the week, according to Bah.

Doumbouya, 40, came to power in 2021 following a military coup against civilian President Alpha Conde.

The streets of the capital Conakry were calm Wednesday morning following announcement of the results.

"We are very happy with the result", telephone vendor Mamoudou Diop, 45, told AFP. "We really want the country to move forward".