Ahmed Sékou Touré
Guinea
Born on January 9, 1922 in Faranah to the Mandika ethnic group, he is the first president of post-indepedent Guinea from 1958 to 1984.
Professional Information
Professional Areas:
Government
Position:
President of Guinea
Working primarily in:
Guinea
Description of Work:
Ahmed Sékou Touré is the grandson of the well known fighter Samory. At the begining of his political career, he was involved with the Postal Workers Union (PTT), a labor union in which he was a founding member in 1945. At this time he also became the Secretary General of the PTT.
In 1952 Touré headed the Democratic Party of Guinea, a local branch of the African Democratic Rally (RDA). Leading the RDA, the group pushed the colonial administration into applying the complete guidelines of the work code in Guinea.
General Council of Guinea in 1954.
President of the organiztion Union Générale des Travailleurs d'Afrique Noir, he was elected as deputy of the French National Assembly in January 1956.
Vice-President of the Governenment Council of Guinea in November 1957, he became President in July 1958. He is the only one to vote "no" to the French Union referendum in September 1958 thus rejecting to be appart of the French Community.
Biographical Information
Ahmed Sékou Touré
(At a Glance)
Date of Birth: Jan/9/1922
: male
Place of Origin: Guinea
Guinea became
indepedant on October 2, 1958. Sékou Touré is
elected president of the Republic on January 15 1959. He
creates ties with socialist countires. Even
with several attempt to restore good relations, in 1963, the
relationship between Paris and Conakry ruptures in 1965.
Relations are restored in 1975 followed by a visit by French
President Giscard d'Estaing to Guinea in 1978 and an official
visit by Sékou Touré to France in 1982.
At the
end of the 1970's, Touré turns more and more towards Islam and
develops numerous relations with muslim countries and
organizations. Constantly re-elected President (the fifth and
last time in 1982), Touré died on March 24, 1984.