Ahmed Sékou Touré: Difference between revisions
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{{Villain_Infobox | {{Villain_Infobox | ||
|image = | |image = Ahmed_Sekou_Toure_copy_600x788.jpg | ||
|fullname = Ahmed Sékou Touré | |fullname = Ahmed Sékou Touré | ||
|alias = | |alias = The Elephant<br>Great Leader | ||
|origin = Faranah, Guinea | |origin = Faranah, French Guinea | ||
|occupation = President of Guinea (1958 - 1984) | |occupation = President of Guinea (1958 - 1984) | ||
|skills = | |skills =form the United African States with Nkrumah and Keita (failed) | ||
|hobby = | |hobby =protect the sovereignty of Africa from the Neo-Colonialists | ||
|goals = | |goals = Gain Guinea's independence from France (successful)<br>Remain in power (successful) | ||
|crimes = Slavery<br> | |crimes = [[Slavery]]<br> | ||
Authoritarianism<br> | [[Authoritarianism]]<br> | ||
[[Torture]]<br> | [[Torture]]<br> | ||
Mass [[murder]]<br> | Mass [[murder]]<br> | ||
Unlawful detention | Unlawful detention | ||
|type of villain = Tyrant | |type of villain = Oppressive Tyrant | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Quote|Guinea prefers poverty in freedom to riches in slavery.|Ahmed Sékou Touré}} | {{Quote|Guinea prefers poverty in freedom to riches in slavery.|Ahmed Sékou Touré}} | ||
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In 1960, Touré declared the PDG to be the only legal party, though the country had effectively been a one-party state since independence. For the next 24 years, Touré effectively held all governing power in the nation. He was elected to a seven-year term as president in 1961; as leader of the PDG he was the only candidate. He was reelected unopposed in 1968, 1974 and 1982. Every five years, a single list of PDG candidates was returned to the National Assembly. | In 1960, Touré declared the PDG to be the only legal party, though the country had effectively been a one-party state since independence. For the next 24 years, Touré effectively held all governing power in the nation. He was elected to a seven-year term as president in 1961; as leader of the PDG he was the only candidate. He was reelected unopposed in 1968, 1974 and 1982. Every five years, a single list of PDG candidates was returned to the National Assembly. | ||
During his presidency, Touré's policies were strongly based on Marxism, with the nationalization of foreign companies and centralized economic plans. He won the Lenin Peace Prize as a result in 1961. Most of those actively opposed to his regime were arrested and then jailed or | During his presidency, Touré's policies were strongly based on Marxism, with the nationalization of foreign companies and centralized economic plans. He won the Lenin Peace Prize as a result in 1961. Most of those actively opposed to his regime were arrested and then jailed or [[exile]]d. His early actions to reject the French and then to appropriate wealth and farmland from traditional landlords angered many powerful forces, but the increasing failure of his government to provide either economic opportunities or democratic rights angered more. Famously, he stated that "Guinea prefers poverty in freedom to riches in slavery." While he is still revered in much of Africa and in the Pan-African movement, many Guineans, and activists in Europe, have become critical of Touré's failure to institute meaningful democracy or free media. | ||
Opposition to single-party rule grew slowly, and by the late 1960s those who opposed his government faced the risk of detention camps and night visits by the [[secret police]]. His opponents often had two choices: say nothing or go abroad. Guineans who had fled reported that Touré's regime "practices tyranny and [[torture]] on a daily basis". His approach towards his opponents caused charges to be brought from Amnesty International (as well as other human rights organizations), accusing his rule to be too oppressive. From 1965 to 1975 Toure ended all his government's relations with France, the former colonial power. | Opposition to single-party rule grew slowly, and by the late 1960s those who opposed his government faced the risk of detention camps and night visits by the [[secret police]]. His opponents often had two choices: say nothing or go abroad. Guineans who had fled reported that Touré's regime "practices tyranny and [[torture]] on a daily basis". His approach towards his opponents caused charges to be brought from Amnesty International (as well as other human rights organizations), accusing his rule to be too oppressive. From 1965 to 1975 Toure ended all his government's relations with France, the former colonial power. | ||
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Single-list elections for an expanded National Assembly were held in 1980. Touré was elected unopposed to a fourth seven-year term as president on 9 May 1982. A new constitution was adopted that month, and during the summer Touré visited the United States. While in Washington, Toure urged for more American private investment in Guinea, and claimed that the country had "fabulous economic potential" due to its mineral reserves. This was taken by US diplomats to be a confession of the failure of Marxism. It was part of his economic policy change that led him to seek Western investment in order to develop Guinea's huge mineral reserves. At the same time, however, the annual average income of Guineans was $140, life expectancy was only at 41 years, and the literacy rate was only 10%. Measures announced in 1983 brought further economic liberalization, including the delegation of produce marketing to private traders. | Single-list elections for an expanded National Assembly were held in 1980. Touré was elected unopposed to a fourth seven-year term as president on 9 May 1982. A new constitution was adopted that month, and during the summer Touré visited the United States. While in Washington, Toure urged for more American private investment in Guinea, and claimed that the country had "fabulous economic potential" due to its mineral reserves. This was taken by US diplomats to be a confession of the failure of Marxism. It was part of his economic policy change that led him to seek Western investment in order to develop Guinea's huge mineral reserves. At the same time, however, the annual average income of Guineans was $140, life expectancy was only at 41 years, and the literacy rate was only 10%. Measures announced in 1983 brought further economic liberalization, including the delegation of produce marketing to private traders. | ||
[[File:Louis Lansana Beavogui.png|thumb|232x232px|Touré's personal colleague, Louis Lansana Beavogui was overthrown and imprisoned by Conté's junta]] | |||
Touré died of an apparent heart attack on 26 March 1984 while undergoing cardiac treatment at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio for emergency heart surgery; he had been rushed to the United States after being stricken in Saudi Arabia the previous day. Touré's tomb is at the Camayanne Mausoleum, situated within the gardens of the Conakry Grand Mosque. | |||
Touré | Touré's personal colleague, Louis Lansana Beavogui was overthrown and imprisoned by Conté's junta | ||
Prime Minister Louis Lansana Béavogui became acting president, pending elections that were to be held within 45 days. During his short presidency, Beavoguí paid his respects to the founder of the republic. The Political Bureau of the ruling Guinea Democratic Party was due to name its choice as Touré's successor on 3 April 1984. Under the constitution, the PDG's new leader would have been automatically elected to a seven-year term as president and confirmed in office by the voters by the end of spring. Just hours before that meeting took place, the armed forces seized power in a ''coup d'état''. They denounced the last years of Touré's rule as a "bloody and ruthless dictatorship." The constitution was suspended, the National Assembly dissolved, and the PDG abolished. Col. [[Lansana Conté]], leader of the coup, assumed the presidency on 5 April, heading the Military Committee of National Restoration (Comité Militaire de Redressement National—CMRN). The military group freed about 1,000 political prisoners. | |||
Louis Beavoguí, ousted interim president and possible successor to the regime, suffered from diabetes and was taken to receive medical treatment, he died four months later of natural causes (Diabetes). | |||
In 1985 Conté took advantage of an alleged coup attempt to arrest and execute several of Sekou Touré's close associates, including Ismael Touré, Mamadi Keïta, Siaka Touré, former commander of Camp Boiro; and Moussa Diakité. | In 1985 Conté took advantage of an alleged coup attempt to arrest and execute several of Sekou Touré's close associates, including Ismael Touré, Mamadi Keïta, Siaka Touré, former commander of Camp Boiro; and Moussa Diakité. | ||
[[Category:List]] | [[Category:List]] | ||
[[Category:Totalitarians]] | [[Category:Totalitarians]] | ||
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[[Category:Mass Murderers]] | [[Category:Mass Murderers]] | ||
[[Category:Communist]] | [[Category:Communist]] | ||
[[Category:Starvers]] | |||
[[Category:Remorseful]] | |||
[[Category:Guinea]] | |||