Gambiaj.com – (Conakry, Guinea) – The President of Guinea’s National Transition Council (CNT), Dansa Kourouma, has strongly defended the introduction of independent candidacies in the draft Constitution, arguing that the measure reflects a long-standing demand of civil society rather than an attempt to favor a potential presidential bid by General Mamadi Doumbouya.
Speaking in an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle this week, Kourouma dismissed criticism from parts of the political class who view the provision as a mechanism tailored for the transitional leader.
“It is the most dangerous shortcut the political class is making. Independent candidacy predates President Mamadi Doumbouya. For 20 years, Guinean civil society and intellectuals have been fighting for this mechanism to slow excessive politicization and allow citizens with political projects, but not tied to parties, to contest elections,” Kourouma said.
He further anchored the reform on international law, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which enshrine every citizen’s right to participate in the political life of their country.
“Why force citizens to belong to a political party? This constitution is being drafted in line with international human rights standards,” he added.
On the sensitive question of General Doumbouya’s political future, Kourouma insisted that the independent candidacy clause was not tailored for him but would apply to all Guineans.
“If President Mamadi Doumbouya wants to be a candidate, he can do so through an independent bid. These modalities are not linked to one person. This is a social demand expressed by Guineans for decades, and we have simply adopted it,” he maintained.
Kourouma’s remarks come as debate intensifies over the draft Constitution, which is set to be put to a referendum on September 21. Opposition parties fear the transition may be prolonged and culminate in Doumbouya’s candidacy, while the authorities argue the reforms will finally open the door to greater democratic participation.
