AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alhaji A. Barrie   Guinea’s military-led transitional government has sparked widespread outrage after announcing a presidential election entry fee of 875 million Guinean francs, approximately $100,000. The fee applies to candidates contesting the December 2025 vote, the first national election since Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power in a 2021 coup.  The announcement, made by the electoral commission under the junta’s oversight, has been met with disbelief and criticism across the country. Many citizens and political analysts argue the fee is not only exorbitant but exclusionary.  “This fee is a wall, not a gate to democracy,” said one analyst speaking on local radio stations in Conakry. “It sends a message that only the wealthy or well-connected can aspire to lead.” The government has stated that the deposit will be refunded to candidates who secure more than 5% of the vote.  However, critics warn that the financial barrier could discourage independent voices...