Guinea has had four official presidents since gaining independence from France in 1958. The first was Ahmed Sékou Touré, who led the country until 1984. Afterward, Lansana Conté ruled for over two decades, with term limits removed for him in 2001.
Alpha Condé became president in 2010, and term limits were also lifted for him in 2020. Guinea’s Constitution currently allows presidents to serve two terms, but these limits have been adjusted at times for specific leaders.
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Complete List Of Guinea Presidents From 1958 Till Date
No | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ahmed Sékou Touré | 2 October 1958 | 26 March 1984 | PDG-RDA |
2 | Louis Lansana Beavogui | 26 March 1984 | 3 April 1984 | PDG-RDA |
Military Committee of National Restoration | 3 April 1984 | 3 April 1984 | Military |
|
Diarra Traoré | 3 April 1984 | 3 April 1984 | Military |
|
3 | Lansana Conté | 3 April 1984 | 22 December 2008 | PUP |
Moussa Dadis Camara | 24 December 2008 | 3 December 2009 | Military |
|
Sékouba Konaté | 3 December 2009 | 21 December 2010 | Military |
|
4 | Alpha Condé | 21 December 2010 | 5 September 2021 | RPG |
Mamady Doumbouya | Interim since September,2021 | Incumbent | Military |
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Who Was The First President Of Guinea?
Ahmed Sékou Touré, born on January 9, 1922, was the first president of Guinea. He was part of the Malinké ethnic group. Sékou Touré began his education in a local Koranic school and later went to a regional school in Kissidougou.
In 1936, he was expelled from school in Conakry for organizing a hunger strike because of poor food conditions. However, he continued his studies through correspondence courses while working as a treasury clerk under the French colonial government.
Touré became politically active in the 1940s. He started by creating Guinea’s first trade union in 1945 for workers in the Post, Telegraph, and Telephone departments.
In 1946, he established the Pan-African Democratic African Rally (RDA), which aimed to push for independence for African countries from colonial rule.
By 1952, he became the leader of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), which was a strong voice against French colonial rule in Guinea. In 1958, after Guinea voted overwhelmingly for independence, Sékou Touré declared Guinea a sovereign nation on October 2.
This made Guinea the first country in West Africa to gain independence from France. Touré became the president and worked to change Guinea into a socialist state. He nationalized industries and tried to give land to peasants.
He also improved education and healthcare but faced challenges with managing the economy. His government became more authoritarian over time, with little tolerance for opposition. Political opponents were often imprisoned or executed.
Touré also strongly believed in Pan-Africanism and worked to unite African countries. He was one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity in 1963.
Throughout his presidency, he kept Guinea aligned with both Eastern and Western countries to secure aid. After struggling with heart problems for years, Sékou Touré passed away in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 26, 1984.
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Who Is The Current President Of Guinea?
Mamady Doumbouya is the current president of Guinea. He became the interim president after a military coup on September 5, 2021. This coup resulted in the removal of the former president, Alpha Condé.
Doumbouya, who was born in 1980, had a strong military career before becoming president. He was a colonel in Guinea’s military and also served in the French Foreign Legion. Before taking control in 2021, he was the head of Guinea’s Special Forces Group.
His military background helped him rise to a leadership position in the country. Doumbouya’s rise to power was caused by protests and dissatisfaction with Alpha Condé’s government.
The main reason for the unrest was Condé’s decision to change the constitution to allow himself a third term as president. Many people were unhappy about this change, and it led to mass protests.
The military, led by Doumbouya, stepped in and took control of the government. After the coup, Doumbouya promised to restore constitutional order and unite the country. He was sworn in as president on October 1, 2021.
Since taking power, Doumbouya has made it clear that he wants to make changes in Guinea. One of his main goals is to create a new constitution that will reflect the needs and wishes of the people.
He has also promised to fight corruption, reform the country’s electoral system, and ensure fair and free elections. In December 2024, Doumbouya announced plans to hold a referendum in early 2025, where the people of Guinea will vote on the new constitution.
Doumbouya’s government is also working on organizing elections in 2025. These elections will include presidential, legislative, and local elections.
Doumbouya has stated that the goal is to make sure these elections are transparent and inclusive, with a focus on making them fair for all Guineans.
Despite his promises for democratic reforms, some people in Guinea and international observers are watching closely to see if Doumbouya will truly follow through on his commitment to civilian rule.
He has said that he does not intend to run for president in the future, but there is still speculation that he may get involved in future elections under a new political system. In January 2024, Doumbouya was promoted to the rank of general.
