Guinea’s transitional government has introduced a draft constitution that proposes new limits on presidential terms. This draft, unveiled Monday to the National Transitional Council, suggested reducing the presidential term to five years, with a limit of two terms.
The draft constitution does not prevent current military leader Mamady Doumbouya, who came to power after a 2021 coup, from running in future elections.
This draft comes amid uncertainty about the timing of the next presidential election, as the junta had previously agreed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on a two-year transition to elections starting in 2022. However, no election has yet been organised.
Former President Alpha Conde, who was ousted in the coup, would be excluded from running under the new constitution due to an age limit. Conde, who is 86, had sparked controversy by changing the constitution to allow himself a third term in 2020, leading to widespread unrest and a military coup in 2021.
The new constitution aims to restore the country to constitutional rule and stabilise its democracy. A referendum will be held to approve the draft, although the date has not been set.
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