African Union Lifts Sanctions on Guinea After Controversial Presidential Election

The African Union has lifted sanctions on Guinea following the December 2025 presidential election, praising the country’s political transition roadmap and congratulating former junta leader Mamady Doumbouya on his victory. However, civil society groups and opposition candidates criticized the election as a “charade” marked by irregularities. Since seizing power in 2021, Doumbouya has restricted civil liberties, banned protests, and targeted political rivals, raising concerns about Guinea’s democratic progress despite the AU’s endorsement.

The African Union has officially announced that it is lifting the sanctions previously imposed on Guinea, sanctions that were put in place following the 2021 military coup that overthrew the country’s first freely elected president, Alpha Condé. The decision to lift the sanctions came in the wake of the presidential election held in December 2025, which the African Union described as successfully organized. In a statement, the Union praised the “positive steps taken in the implementation of the Political Transition Roadmap in the Republic of Guinea,” noting that the roadmap had culminated in the holding of the presidential election on 28 December. The Union congratulated former junta leader Mamady Doumbouya, who emerged as the winner of the election, highlighting the election as a key step in the country’s political transition process.
Despite the African Union’s endorsement of the election process, not everyone in Guinea is satisfied with the outcome. Civil society groups that have long campaigned for a return to civilian rule denounced the election as a “charade,” questioning the legitimacy of the process and accusing the government of manipulating the polls. Similarly, opposition candidates raised concerns about widespread irregularities, claiming that the election was neither free nor fair and that the results were predetermined to favor Doumbouya. These criticisms have raised questions about the true nature of Guinea’s political transition and whether the country is genuinely moving toward inclusive and democratic governance.
Doumbouya, who first came to power by leading a military coup that removed President Condé from office five years ago, has maintained a tight grip on the country since then. His tenure has been marked by a clampdown on civil liberties, including the banning of public demonstrations and protests. Political rivals and critics of the regime have faced arrests, trials, or forced exile, creating a climate of fear and limiting political dissent. Despite these concerns, Doumbouya was formally sworn in as president on Saturday before a large crowd of tens of thousands of supporters, signaling his continued popularity among a segment of the population.
The lifting of the sanctions by the African Union represents an important diplomatic signal, as it allows Guinea to reengage more fully with the regional body and potentially access international support and cooperation. However, the concerns raised by civil society groups and opposition parties indicate that the country still faces significant challenges in consolidating democratic governance, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring that the political transition benefits all citizens rather than remaining concentrated in the hands of the ruling elite. Guinea’s path forward will likely depend on how the new administration balances political stability with the need for accountability, transparency, and inclusion in the country’s political processes.