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Ahmed Sekou ToureFirst President of the Republic of Guinea (1958-84)
Date of Birth: 09.01.1922
Country:  Guinea |
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Ahmed Sékou Touré: Biography of the First President of the Republic of Guinea
Ahmed Sékou Touré was the first President of the Republic of Guinea, serving from October 2, 1958, until March 26, 1984. He was a Levonationalist political and public figure in Guinea, as well as a writer.
Early Life and Political Activism
Ahmed Sékou Touré was born into a prominent family and was the grandson of Samori Touré, a renowned leader of the anti-colonial struggle in West Sudan who led the resistance against French colonization from 1884 to 1898.
Touré received his education at the Pedagogical High School in Conakry, the capital of the colony, for two years. However, in 1937, he was expelled due to his revolutionary activities, including participation in strikes.
In 1945, Touré became one of the co-founders of a workers' union and in 1946, he served as the Vice President of the African Democratic Union, which fought for the independence of West African countries. In 1947, he established the Democratic Party of Guinea, which he also led.
Touré held various leadership positions, including General Secretary of the Guinean section of the General Confederation of Labour of France from 1948, General Secretary of the Coordination Committee of Trade Unions of French West Africa from 1950, and General Secretary of the General Confederation of Workers of Black Africa from 1956.
Struggle for Independence
In 1956, Ahmed Sékou Touré was elected as a deputy in the French National Assembly and became the mayor of Conakry. These positions allowed him to lead an uncompromising fight for Guinea's independence. On October 2, 1958, he was appointed as the lifelong president of Guinea, following the declaration of independence.
As president, Touré implemented radical socialist reforms, including active industrialization and the creation of industrial giants with the help of Soviet specialists. These reforms had mixed consequences: the social sphere became one of the best in the region, but by the mid-1970s, the economy declined as it struggled to sustain such extensive development projects.
Touré himself famously stated, "It is better to live in poverty but free than in wealth but enslaved." He advocated for the complete decolonization of Africa, the fight against neo-colonialism, close integration and mutual assistance among decolonized countries, and the development of friendly relations with the USSR and socialist countries.
In 1978, Touré invited the President of the former colonial power, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, to Guinea, marking the first visit of a French president to the country.
Legacy
Ahmed Sékou Touré's presidency left a lasting impact on Guinea. His reforms transformed the social landscape, but the economic challenges that followed highlighted the need for a more sustainable approach. Touré's commitment to decolonization and his efforts to foster international solidarity continue to shape Guinea's national identity.
