The Guinean community in Senegal staged a major demonstration on Sunday, September 7, 2025, in Dakar, signalling strong support for the upcoming constitutional referendum scheduled for September 21.
Thousands of members of the diaspora gathered at the Grand Théâtre National Doudou N’Diaye Rose, a venue renowned for its cultural significance, hours before officials arrived.
Organised by two major Guinean collectives – “Nâaguè Wéti” led by Abdourahamane Palaga Diallo and the Synergy of Guineans for the Mobilisation of the Diaspora (SGMD) under Elhadj Diarouga Diallo – the event officially launched the referendum campaign on Senegalese soil.
The mobilisation included speeches, cultural performances, and a clear political message urging unity behind President Mamadi Doumbouya.
The ceremony was chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Mahamadou Abdoulaye Diallo, and attended by Guinean Ambassador to Senegal Mandjou Dioubaté.
Senior executives and economic operators, including Bangaly Stev Touré, Mamadou Cissé, and businessman Bakary Diaby, also participated. Performances by reggae artist Sy Savané and young Kora virtuoso Kandia Kora highlighted the cultural dimension of the event.
After welcoming participants, Bangaly Stev Touré, representing the special advisor to the Head of State, called on the diaspora to “keep the flame of political commitment alive and to close ranks behind General Mamadi Doumbouya by voting massively ‘Yes’ in favor of the new constitution.”
Minister Diallo, speaking on behalf of the President, emphasised the historic importance of the September 21 vote.
“We are at a point of junction and convergence of our values, our diversity and our traditions, but also at a point of transition towards new aspirations and new challenges. Guinea is preparing to write a new page in its history,” he said, describing the constitution as a “common pact between the sons and daughters of Guinea, wherever they may be.”
He added that the new Constitution is intended to strengthen democratic standards, guarantee citizens’ fundamental rights, and provide a stable foundation for political and economic development, including major projects such as the Simandou 2040 program.
Observers in Dakar described the massive turnout as a strategic breakthrough, particularly in areas historically dominated by the opposition UFDG of former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo. The demonstration underscores the diaspora’s potential influence on the referendum, reflecting heightened political mobilisation and support for the government’s reform agenda.
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