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France 24
France 24
World
Sarah SAKHO

Hero or dictator? Ahmed Sékou Touré and the war of memory in Guinea

REVISITED © FRANCE 24

Forty years after his death, Ahmed Sékou Touré, the father of Guinea's independence, is more popular than ever. For young people across West Africa in search of a hero, Sékou Touré could be what they're looking for. But this rehabilitation of the country's past dictator glosses over the tens of thousands of deaths attributed to his regime, with access to the notorious Camp Boiro concentration camp now closed to victims' families. Our correspondent Sarah Sakho reports.

Since the 2021 coup in Guinea, the name of Sékou Touré has resurfaced. From military speeches to commemorative gestures, the former president has become a symbol for the current regime. The current authorities have taken steps to restore Sékou Touré's residence and rename the national airport in his honour. 

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