"Thousands of Guineans marched near the Palace of the People in Conakry on Thursday to show support for transitional leader Mamady Doumbouya, who took power in 2021 after a military coup. The movement came ahead of the December 28 election, which Doumbouya had previously pledged not to contest, but he joined after a constitutional change in September. Footage shows Doumbouya's supporters rallying with signs and banners backing the coup leader, chanting and dancing near the palace and through the streets. "There won't even be a competition; everyone knows it. We are waiting for election day. It will be an overwhelming victory," one participant noted. "It is a president who is there for us, who works for the people [...] he does everything we want. A president who acts like this - we can only love him," another expressed. The mobilisation, under the banner of the Generation for Modernity and Development (GMD) movement, garnered attention from supporters across different communities. "The majority of Guineans like not only the head of state but also the actions he has taken since he took office, the work he has done, the activities [...] the population will vote for him 100 per cent. And of course, he will be elected head of state, democratically elected," remarked Saa Samoura, National Coordinator of Committees supporting Doumbouya. Restrictions barring transitional leaders, including Doumbouya, from contesting the election were approved after a referendum in September, which also saw the presidential term extended from five to seven years. 41-year-old Doumbouya seized power after a coup in 2021 that overthrew former President Alpha Conde. Opposition leaders have reportedly accused his transitional government of political repression and called for a boycott of the upcoming vote. Around 6.7 million people are registered to vote, and results are expected within 48 hours of polling. Despite Guinea's significant mineral resources, over half of its people suffer from food insecurity in 2025, according to the World Food Programme. "