Guinea counts votes in a referendum that could allow junta leader to run for president

CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Vote counting was underway in some polling stations in Guinea Sunday evening in a referendum on a draft constitution that could allow the leader of the country’s junta to run for the presidency.

The referendum, which is a key step in the country’s transition from military to civilian rule, is being closely monitored in the coup-battered region, with critics calling it a power grab. Some say it is a way for Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, who took power by force four years ago, to seek the presidency and legitimize his military rule.

Guinea is one of a growing number of West African countries, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military has taken over.

There are 6.7 million eligible voters and the referendum needs a turnout of at least 50% to pass. Some polling stations extended voting time after they were scheduled to close.

The referendum was organized by the Directorate General of Elections, a new body that will oversee the vote count and whose two heads were elected by Doumbouya.

Elections are expected to follow in December.

Dozens of residents wearing their best clothes were lining up in central Conakry before dawn, waiting for a polling station to open.

Mabinty Kalabane, a 23-year-old baker, voted on Sunday for the first time. She came to the polling station in central Conakry in a golden brown dress, a gift from her mother. “I feel proud. I feel 100% Guinean, thanks to this card,” she said, referring to the voting card she held in her hand. She was going to vote “yes” after reading parts of the draft constitution and finding it was “in our advantage.”

In contrast to the festive atmosphere inside the polling stations, tanks and military barricades in the streets were a stark reminder of the junta’s rule.

Doumbouya, wearing a white polo shirt and a cap with Guinea logo on it, arrived Sunday morning at a voting station in downtown Conakry with his wife, a French national, and his son. Dozens of heavily armed special military forces were protecting him from journalists and citizens.

In last days of the campaign, Conakry buzzed with Quran readings, reggae concerts and prayers held in support of Doumbouya. Supporters wearing T-shirts and boubous — traditional West African flowing garments — printed with Doumbouya’s face, gathered at neighborhood rallies. Only one thing was missing: the opposition.

Campaigning was banned on Friday and Saturday, but the referendum remained omnipresent. Public and private buildings in Conakry remained plastered with “Yes" campaign billboards calling for approval of the referendum. At a concert held Friday night in one of Conakry's bars, band members sang a song about Doumbouya, repeatedly chanting “Oui! Oui! Oui!," or “Yes! Yes! Yes!” in French, the country's official language.

The opposition called on their supporters to boycott the referendum. The military regime had silenced critics and last year dissolved more than 50 political parties in a move it claimed was to “clean up the political chessboard.” Weeks before the referendum, it suspended the three main opposition parties, making it impossible for them to organize rallies and speak to the population.

More than half of Guinea's population cannot read or write, which means they only get information about the new constitution from the “yes” camp, said Rafiou Sow, president of the opposition Renewal and Progress Party, one of the suspended political entities, who called for the boycott of the referendum.

“Our activists and supporters have no knowledge of this constitution. The moment we were excluded, they were excluded,” he said. “We, who were supposed to help Guineans understand what is written in it, we are forbidden even to speak.”

Ibrahima Sory Diallo, a 42-year-old clothes seller from Conakry's suburb of Kaporo-Rails, said he followed the opposition's call for a boycott.

“It’s not going well in the country,” he said. “Everyone is suffering. They are telling us it’s going well, but it is not.”

He added: “What they are doing is not pretty. They said they would respect Guinea’s laws, but they have violated them — this is why I haven’t voted.”

When Doumbouya seized control in 2021 after ousting President Alpha Conde, he said he acted to prevent the country from slipping into chaos and chastised the previous government for broken promises.

Despite rich natural resources, over half of Guinea’s population of 15 million people is experiencing “unprecedented levels of poverty and food insecurity,” according to the World Food Program.

Doumbouya initially said he would not run for the presidency. But the draft constitution allows junta members to run for office and extends the presidential mandate from five to seven years, renewable twice.

“Today, clearly the question is about the referendum vote,” Gen. Amara Camara, secretary-general to the presidency, told The Associated Press when asked him whether Doumbouya would seek the top post. “When the time comes, we will talk about it.”

Tiguidanké Guirassy, a 20-year-old university graduate who attended a rally on Thursday evening in central Conakry, said she was “inspired” by Doumbouya to vote in favor of the constitution.

“In my neighborhood, we didn’t have roads,” she said. “Now, he took care of that, we have roads. He has made a lot of progress for Guinea and I hope he will continue on this path.”

If adopted, the constitution would introduce several changes, including creating the Senate and allowing independent candidates to stand in the election.

Fanta Conte, a member of Guinea’s National Transition Council, said the referendum was not about Doumbouya, but about the new constitution, which would give more power to the legislative branch of government.

Analysts said that while the direction of the new constitution was good, the changes were not necessary.

“We've always had constitutions that enshrined balance of powers and democratic and even modern institutions," said Kabinet Fofana, head of the Conakry-based Guinean Association of Political Sciences. “But the problem is not the constitution — it is rather respect (for it), its applicability, and rule of law.”

Critics denounced the referendum as a way to legitimize the military coup.

But many Guineans, disillusioned with previous regimes, have been seduced by Doumbouya's vision of a prosperous, developed Guinea, which would finally benefit all.

“We have seen many regimes here, but since the arrival of (Doumbouya), there has been change," said Ben Daouda Sylla, a 30-year-old lawyer. "He is doing everything possible to ensure that Guinea moves forward.”

Voting slips are emptied from a ballot box at a polling station as polls close during the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Officials count ballots at a polling station as polls close during the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Officials wait at a polling station as polls close during the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Officials work at a polling station during the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Officials count ballots at a polling station as polls close during the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A woman casts her ballot during the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Voters queue to cast their votes in the constitutional referendum, in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, departs with his wife after casting his vote in the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, departs with his wife after casting his vote in the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinean soldiers secure the area outside a polling station before Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya arrives to cast his vote in the constitutional referendum, in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, departs after casting his vote in the constitutional referendum, in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, arrives with his family to cast his vote in the constitutional referendum, in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinean soldiers secure the area outside a polling station before Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya arrives to cast his vote in the constitutional referendum, in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, arrives to cast his vote in the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, departs with his wife after casting his vote in the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

CORRECTS TITLE OF MILITARY LEADER A large campaign banner showing Guinea's interim president, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, is displayed on a public building in Conakry, Guinea, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

CORRECTS TITLE OF MILITARY LEADER People walk past a mural showing Guinea's interim president, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, ahead of the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

CORRECTS TITLE OF MILITARY LEADER People stand in front of a billboard showing Guinea's interim President, Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya, ahead of the constitutional referendum in Conakry, Guinea, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Fishing boats are anchored along the shore in Conakry, Guinea, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Motorcycles travel through a roundabout in Conakry, Guinea, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

TENERIFE, Spain (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization sought Saturday to reassure worried residents of the Spanish island of Tenerife that they are not in danger from the anticipated arrival there of a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, issuing a direct message to them.

The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, with more than 140 passengers and crew on board, is headed to Spain's Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, and is expected to arrive at the island of Tenerife in the early hours of Sunday.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, are to head to the island Saturday to coordinate the disembarkation. of passengers and some crew.

Some residents on the island have said they do not want the ship to dock there, fearing the transmission of the virus. On board the cruise ship, some of the Spanish passengers have voiced concern about how they will be received once on land.

“I know you are worried. I know that when you hear the word “outbreak” and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest. The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment.,” Tedros said in a direct message to the people of Tenerife.

“But I need you to hear me clearly: This is not another COVID. The current public health risk from hantavirus remains low. My colleagues and I have said this unequivocally, and I will say it again to you now,” he added.

Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, a virus which can cause life-threatening illness.

Hantavirus is usually spread by the inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.

The WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide said Saturday that nobody on board the Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus.

“WHO continues to actively monitor the situation, coordinate support and next steps and will keep Member States and the public updated accordingly. So far, the risk for the population of Canary Islands and globally remains low,” Tedros posted earlier on X.

Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said passengers and some crew would disembark in Tenerife under strict health protocols.

Everyone disembarking will first be medically checked to ensure they are not showing any symptoms, while people will only be taken off the ship if a flight is already in Tenerife waiting to fly them off the island, Garcia said during a news conference in Madrid. There are currently people of more than 20 different nationalities on board.

Both the U.S. and the U.K. have agreed to send planes to evacuate their citizens from the cruise ship.

Those disembarking will not take any luggage with them, Garcia said, and will be allowed to disembark with only a small item of hand luggage containing essential items, a cellphone, charger and documentation.

Some crew, as well as the body of a passenger who died onboard, will not disembark, Garcia said. They will remain on board as the Hondius then sets sail for the Netherlands, where it will undergo disinfection, the minister added.

All Spanish passengers will be transferred to a medical facility and quarantined, she said. Oceanwide has listed 13 Spanish passengers and one Spanish crew member on board.

According to a letter sent by the Dutch foreign and health ministers to parliament late Friday, Spain has activated the EU civil protection mechanism for a medical evacuation plane equipped for high-consequence infectious disease to be on standby.

If anyone falls ill, the medics on board the ship will inform Spanish authorities, and the evacuation plane “will be sent to Tenerife so that the sick person can be quickly transported by air to the European mainland.”

The Dutch government will work with Spanish authorities and the ship company to arrange repatriation of Dutch passengers and crew as soon as possible after arrival in Tenerife, subject to medical conditions and advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the letter said. Those without symptoms will go into home quarantine for six weeks and be monitored by local health services.

As the ship is Dutch-flagged, the Netherlands may also temporarily accommodate people of other nationalities and monitor them in quarantine, it said.

Health authorities across four continents were tracking down and monitoring more than two dozen passengers who disembarked before the deadly outbreak was detected. They were also scrambling to trace others who may have come into contact with them.

On April 24, nearly two weeks after the first passenger had died on board, more than two dozen people from at least 12 different countries left the ship without contact tracing, Dutch officials and the ship’s operator have said.

It wasn’t until May 2 that health authorities first confirmed hantavirus in a passenger.

On Friday, the WHO said a flight attendant on a plane briefly boarded by an infected cruise passenger had tested negative for hantavirus. Her possible infection had raised concerns about the virus’ potential transmissibility.

The KLM flight attendant was working on a plane headed from Johannesburg to Amsterdam on April 25, and had later fallen ill.

The cruise passenger briefly aboard that flight — a Dutch woman whose husband died on the ship — was too ill to stay on the international flight to Europe and was taken off in Johannesburg, where she died.

Becatoros reported from Sparta, Greece. Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

Passengers on the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, scan the horizon with binoculars during their voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)

Passengers on the the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, watch epidemiologists board the boat in Praia, during their voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)

A passenger checks his camera inside his cabin on the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, during the voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)

Crew members of the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, wait their turns for a first interview with epidemiologists, during the voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)

A passenger on the the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, takes a photo of the ship's weighing anchor in Praia, during the voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)