Guinean President Mamadi Doumbouya, who has been out of the country for two and a half weeks, "is doing very well" and "will return to Conakry in the very next few days," authorities assured on Monday, after rumors about the leader's health.

Mamadi Doumbouya, who has ruled Guinea with an iron fist since a coup in 2021, was elected in December for a seven-year term following a tailor-made election, against opponents of little stature.

President Doumbouya left Guinea on February 13 to attend an African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but has still not returned to his country, fueling speculation about his health on social media.

"President Mamadi Dombouya is doing very well. There is absolutely no reason to give in to worry or speculation," said his advisor Thierno Mamadou Bah, quoted by several local media on Monday morning.

According to him, the president took "a few days off" on the sidelines of the AU summit. He did not specify where he was.

"He took the opportunity to have a routine medical check-up, as responsible leaders do when they are concerned about preserving their full capacity to act. I can state, with the greatest clarity, that the results are reassuring, everything is going very well," continued Mr. Bah.

"The President of the Republic will return to Conakry in the very next few days, in excellent health," added the presidential advisor.

Interviewed on RFI radio on Monday evening, Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah also stated that the President "is doing well" and that he will return "within a week".

Only two media outlets had reported the president's absence: the news site Le Djely and the satirical newspaper Le Lynx, which maintains a free tone in a context of shrinking freedoms.

For many months, Mr. Doumbouya's public appearances and statements have been very rare, fueling much speculation about his health and his ability to perform his duties.

Rumors have been circulating on social media since the presidential campaign in December, during which General Doumbouya did almost no campaigning, apart from an appearance at the closing rally where he did not speak.

The head of state was sworn in before a packed stadium during his inauguration in mid-January as President of Guinea. He also addressed the AU summit in Addis Ababa.

Under his presidency, several political parties and media outlets have been suspended, protests were banned in 2022 and are being repressed, and many opposition and civil society leaders have been arrested, convicted or forced into exile.

News of enforced disappearances and abductions has increased in recent years.