Conté ran for another seven-year term despite serious health problems, including diabetes, which caused some to doubt his ability to continue as President.
[1] 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.
[2] 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.
[4] Conté was sworn in for his new seven-year term on 19 January 2004 and vowed to fight corruption in a television broadcast on the occasion.