Conté ran for another seven-year term despite serious health problems, including diabetes, which caused some to doubt his ability to continue as President. He was unanimously nominated as the candidate of the ruling
Unity and Progress Party (PUP) in September 2003, but he said that he would not participate in campaigning. Demands from the
Republican Front for Democratic Change (FRAD) opposition coalition concerning the creation of an independent electoral commission and access to state media were unfulfilled by the government, and consequently all the major opposition leaders chose to boycott the election. Although the main opposition politicians chose to boycott, six others tried to run but saw their candidacies rejected due to technicalities. Aside from Conté, only one candidate was permitted to run:
Mamadou Bhoye Barry of the
Union for National Progress. Barry was known as a supporter and friend of Conté; as a veterinarian, he also cared for Conté's livestock. ==Results==