Guinea's junta leader is confirmed president-elect after first vote since a 2021 coup

Guinea’s Supreme Court has upheld the election victory of junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya. The Dec. 28 vote was the country's first since a 2021 coup deposed its elected government. Doumbouya's win cements his transition from a military leader to a democratically elected president. Four years ago Doumbouya staged a coup in the West African nation. The election has been held under a new constitution that revokes a ban on military leaders running for office. The change also extends the presidential mandate from five years to seven years. Runner-up Yero Baldé had filed a petition accusing the electoral body of manipulating the results. Authorities say he withdrew the petition a day before the Supreme Court verdict.