Gambiaj.com – (CONAKRY, Guinea) – The Guinean capital is abuzz with diplomatic activity as heads of state and international delegations arrive for the official inauguration of President Mamadi Doumbouya, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026.
The ceremony, held at the General Lansana Conté Stadium, marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s history, signaling the formal end of the transition period that began on September 5, 2021.
Regional Heavyweights Show Support
The inauguration has drawn significant regional attention, with nearly a dozen heads of state expected to attend. Among the first to arrive on Friday was Gambian President Adama Barrow, who was received at the airport with full honors by Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah.
Following a brief, cordial exchange with Guinean officials, President Barrow took a moment to meet with members of the Gambian diaspora. A large crowd of Gambian nationals gathered at the airport to welcome their leader, who expressed his pleasure in visiting Guinea for such a symbolic occasion.
Joining President Barrow in the capital is Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who arrived Friday afternoon. Kagame’s presence is seen by analysts as a major diplomatic endorsement, reflecting the deepening ties between Conakry and Kigali in sectors such as security and governance.
Additionally, Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema confirmed via social media that he would be attending to support his “colleague and friend.” Nguema last visited Guinea in November 2025 for the launch of the landmark Simandou mining project.
International Representation
While some nations are represented by their heads of state, others have dispatched high-level delegations.
France, following a congratulatory call from President Emmanuel Macron after the Supreme Court confirmed Doumbouya’s victory, has sent Eléonore Caroit, the Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships. Minister Caroit arrived in Conakry on Friday to represent the French government.
High Security and Solemnity
Speaking earlier this week, Guinea’s Minister of Culture and Handicrafts, Moussa Moïse Sylla, emphasized that the choice of the General Lansana Conté Stadium was intended to give the event “maximum solemnity.”
“Security will be reinforced,” Minister Sylla stated. “The objective is to ensure that everyone—from international dignitaries to the public—can move safely within their designated zones.”
The inauguration officially closes the chapter on the military-led transition, positioning President Doumbouya as the elected leader of the West African nation as it moves toward a new political era
