International NewsNiaja NewsPolitics

Presidential Inauguration: VP Shettima Touches Down in Conakry as Doumbouya Takes Oath Saturday

International Desk

CONAKRY — Vice President Kashim Shettima has landed in Conakry, Guinea, to represent Nigeria at the inauguration of President-elect General Mamadi Doumbouya tomorrow, Saturday, January 17.

The Vice President’s arrival underscores Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability as the West African nation sheds its military transition for a constitutional democracy.

Quick Read

  • The Arrival: VP Shettima touched down at the Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport this evening, where Guinean Prime Minister Bah Oury received him.
  • The Mission: He stands in for President Bola Tinubu, who currently attends the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the UAE.
  • The Event: General Doumbouya takes the oath of office tomorrow as the 5th President of Guinea, following his landslide victory in the December 28, 2025 elections.
  • The Context: This inauguration terminates the transition period that began with the 2021 coup, despite opposition criticism regarding the election process.

Detailed Story: A New Chapter for Guinea

CONAKRY — The Nigerian jet carrying Vice President Kashim Shettima landed at approximately 5:30 PM local time in Conakry. Guinean Prime Minister Bah Oury and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté welcomed the Vice President with full diplomatic honors.

Shettima leads a high-powered Nigerian delegation to witness General Mamadi Doumbouya’s swearing-in, an event ECOWAS leaders hope will stabilize the volatile Mano River region.

Shettima Holds Brief for Tinubu

The Villa confirmed that while President Bola Tinubu engages investors in the United Arab Emirates, he prioritizes Nigeria’s visibility at this transition.

“Vice President Shettima conveys the goodwill of the Nigerian people to General Doumbouya as he swaps his uniform for the mantle of a civilian President,” the Villa statement read.

Doumbouya Seizes Democratic Mandate

Tomorrow, the General Lansana Conté Stadium will host the ceremony that formalizes Doumbouya’s decisive shift from military ruler to elected head of state.

  • The Victory: Doumbouya crushed his opponents in the December 28, 2025 presidential election, securing 86.72% of the vote against his closest rival, Yéro Baldé.
  • The New Order: The inauguration follows the adoption of a new constitution in September 2025, which permitted Doumbouya to run despite his initial pledge to step down.

Nigeria Targets Regional Stability

Security analysts view Nigeria’s presence as a strategic maneuver. By engaging Doumbouya, the Tinubu administration aims to anchor Guinea within the ECOWAS fold and prevent it from joining the “Alliance of Sahel States” (AES) alongside Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

VP Shettima plans to hold brief bilateral talks with other West African leaders before returning to Abuja on Sunday.