Aliou Bah, the jailed president of the Liberal Democratic Movement (MoDeL), has been formally declared his party’s candidate for Guinea’s 2025 presidential election, despite serving a two-year sentence for defaming the head of state.
The announcement was made by MoDeL’s vice-president and interim leader, Elhadj Amie Soumah, during an interview with TV5 Monde, where he firmly dismissed speculation about a substitute candidate.
“He’s the one we’re going to present, he’s the one who’s going to be our candidate,” Soumah said. “We believe Aliou Bah will be released, because even the charges they have brought against him cannot prevent him from being president. It’s never too late to do good.”
Soumah emphasized that Bah’s detention poses neither a legal nor political obstacle to his candidacy and called on authorities to ensure his release ahead of the election.
The interim MoDeL leader also addressed the growing speculation surrounding transitional president General Mamadi Doumbouya’s potential bid for the presidency. Doumbouya, who came to power following a military takeover, had previously pledged not to contest in upcoming elections.
“It’s a great shame because the transitional president must understand what he is doing today,” Soumah stated. “He is an officer who must keep his word. A given word is sacred in our deep Africa.”
He criticized the pro-Doumbouya campaigns gaining traction, cautioning the general to reconsider. “We strongly encourage him to take stock of things and ensure that he does not go out the back door,” Soumah warned.
With its unequivocal backing of Bah, MoDeL has signalled its determination to remain a central player in Guinea’s tense political landscape, setting the stage for a contentious election cycle as debates over leadership and legitimacy intensify.
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