First free election

Guinea has welcomed its first democratically elected president since the country's independence 52 years ago, following a lengthy sequence of authoritarian and military administrations, which is one of the Things About Guinea You Should Know is that Guinea. The elections came after one of Guinea's most horrific times, during which the army murdered civilians protesting for democracy.

In November 2010, Guinea had its first democratic elections, and long-time political rival Alpha Conde was elected president. He was re-elected in 2015, as the constitution allows for two terms. After a period of turmoil highlighted by violence at opposition gatherings, protests against a third term for Conde erupted in October 2019, killing dozens in a security force response. Conde announced his intention to seek a third term in September. He claims that the new constitution passed in March resets the presidential term counter to zero, while the opposition calls this a "constitutional coup."