Gambiaj.com – Conakry, Guinea) – The National Alliance for Democratic Alternation (ANAD), a major opposition coalition that includes veteran political figure Cellou Dalein Diallo, has firmly rejected the draft constitution recently submitted to the transitional president, General Mamadi Doumbouya.
In a statement released Friday, the coalition accused the junta of manipulating the transition process to maintain power, in violation of both national and international legal frameworks.
ANAD argues that the proposed text opens the door for General Doumbouya to stand as a candidate in upcoming elections, which the group says amounts to a deliberate breach of the Transition Charter.
The coalition cited Article 46 of the charter, which categorically bars the president and members of the ruling National Committee of the Rally for Development (CNRD) from contesting in either national or local elections intended to conclude the transition.
This clause, the group stressed, is “unchangeable,” and its omission from the draft constitution is seen not as an oversight but as a calculated attempt to pave the way for the junta leader to prolong his rule.
“By authorizing the candidacy of the head of the junta, the project promotes perjury and violates not only the charter of the transition but also the African Charter of Democracy, Elections and Governance,” ANAD stated.
The coalition warned that allowing Doumbouya to run would amount to a betrayal of the solemn commitments he made upon taking office and would erode public trust in the transition process.
In addition to concerns over eligibility, ANAD criticized provisions in the draft that they say guarantee impunity for the president. Specifically, the coalition condemned Article 74, which they argue directly contradicts Article 160 of the same draft establishing a Special Court of Justice. According to ANAD, this move would shield the president from accountability and weaken judicial independence.
The coalition is also alarmed by the proposed length of the presidential term and the lack of measures for financial transparency. It insists that the draft constitution must include a shorter presidential mandate and require the head of state to publicly declare assets at the beginning and end of their term.
In its statement, ANAD underscored that the current draft violates not only the Transition Charter but also regional and international commitments made by Guinea, including those under the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union’s charter on democratic norms.
ANAD concluded by declaring its readiness to resist the adoption of the draft constitution in its current form, warning that Guinea risks sliding back into authoritarianism under the guise of constitutional reform.
The group’s rejection adds to the growing tension surrounding the country’s transition and highlights widespread concern over the junta’s true intentions as Guinea navigates a fragile and closely watched path back to democratic rule.
