Guinea's New Leader: What's Next?

Guinea's Supreme Court has given the green light to Mamady Doumbouya's big win in the recent election. This means the former military leader, who took control in a 2021 coup, is now set to be president for the next seven years. The court also noted that the runner-up, Abdoulaye Yero Balde, decided to drop his legal challenge against the results. Balde, who got only 6. 59% of the vote, had claimed the election wasn't fair and that his party's representatives were kicked out of some polling stations.Doumbouya, who is believed to be in his early 40s, first came to power by overthrowing the previous president, Alpha Conde. Conde, who was ousted in 2021, recently called the election a "masquerade. " The final results showed Doumbouya winning a huge 86. 72% of the vote against eight other candidates. After the court's decision, Doumbouya urged everyone in Guinea and abroad to unite and work towards building a new future for the country. Guinea is known for its rich resources like bauxite and iron ore. The U. S. embassy in Guinea has congratulated Doumbouya and expressed hope for stronger ties and economic stability.