Alpha Condé

Condé was born on 4 March 1938 in Boke in Lower Guinea. His parents were from Upper Volta.

Condé left for France at the age of 15. He was active in the National Union of Higher Education (SNESUP), the Association of Guinean Students in France (AEGF), and the Black African Students Federation in France (FEANF), of which he was claimed to be the Executive Coordinator of African National Groups (GN) from 1967 to 1975, overseeing the activities of the Directorate of FEANF.{{Cite web|title=President of Guinea - Alpha Condé|url=https://justiceguinee.gov.gn/president-of-guinea/|access-date=15 September 2021|website=Guinée Ministère de la justice|language=fr-FR|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015064120/https://justiceguinee.gov.gn/president-of-guinea/|url-status=dead}}

Condé wrote a master's thesis in political science, Le P.D.G. et le peuple de Guinée, in 1965.{{cite book|title=Le P.D.G. et le peuple de Guinée.|oclc=26537950}}

File:AlphaCondé.jpeg

Condé won 18 percent of the vote in Guinea's first multiparty presidential election, held on 19 December 1993. Lansana Conté, who had been president since a 1984 coup d'état, won the election with 51.7 percent of the vote. Condé's supporters alleged fraud in this election after the Supreme Court nullified results in the Kankan and Siguiri prefectures, where Condé had received more than 60 percent of the vote.Englebert, Pierre. (2006) Guinea: recent history. In Africa south of the Sahara 2006, 35th ed. London: Routledge. Condé's supporters retorted with intimidation, ballot stuffing and violence in the Kankan and Siguiri prefectures resulting in the Supreme Court nullifying the results in those prefectures.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} In the 1998 presidential election, Condé ran again and received 17.6 percent of the vote, placing third behind Conté (56.1 percent) and Mamadou Boye Bâ (24.6 percent). On 16 December, two days after the poll, Condé was arrested and charged with trying to leave the country illegally; he was also charged with attempting to recruit forces to destabilize the government.

Controversy during his detention focused on whether he could be represented by foreign as well as domestic lawyers, and whether defense lawyers were being given full access to him in jail. Condé's trial, initially scheduled to begin in September 1999, did not begin until April 2000. Condé, along with 47 co-defendants, was charged with hiring mercenaries, planning to assassinate President Conté, and upsetting the state's security. Defense lawyers began by calling for the judge to immediately release their clients, then quit, saying that under the circumstances they could not properly make a defense. The trial was thus delayed several times, during which time Condé refused to speak in court, and his co-defendants denied all of the charges. The trial finally continued in August, and in mid-September Condé was sentenced to jail for five years.

However, Condé was released in May 2001 when he was pardoned by President Conté, with the condition that he was prohibited from engaging in political activities. Following his release, he left Guinea for France, returning in July 2005.{{cite news |url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=55250 |title=Guinea: Opposition leader returns as food tensions mount |work=IRIN |date=4 July 2005}} Upon his return, some reports indicated that he intended to organize the RPG for the municipal elections held in late 2005, but later stated his intention to boycott them.{{cite news |url=http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=55525 |title=Guinea: Opposition split over whether to take part in municipal elections |work=IRIN |date=20 July 2005}}

Following Conté's death and the 23 December 2008 military coup, Condé met with Moussa Dadis Camara, the President of the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD), on 27 December 2008. After the meeting, Condé said that the members of the CNDD junta were "patriots".{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLR178986 |title=Guinea coup leader gets Senegal's backing |work=Reuters |date=27 December 2008}} Condé lobbied the CNDD junta to arrest and jail Condé's political rivals. Later, however, Condé opposed the junta{{Why|date=July 2011}} after failing to push the CNDD junta to intimidate and disqualify Condé's political rivals. Moussa Dadis Camara publicly exposed Condé's request to commit anti-democratic and anti-constitutional acts on his behalf.{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gu5-PDqaGyy9lFOPMuu6NtgydAGw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224113041/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gu5-PDqaGyy9lFOPMuu6NtgydAGw |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2010 |title=Guinea junta chief 'holed up in Burkina villa' |work=AFP |date=20 February 2010}}

{{POV section|date=July 2020}}

File:Democracy in Francophone Africa.jpg

Condé stood again in the June–November 2010 presidential election. During the first round, he received 18 percent of the votes, while Cellou Dalein Diallo placed first with over 40 percent. On 15 November 2010 Condé was declared the winner of the second round with 52.5 percent.{{cite news|last1=Samb|first1=Saliou|title=Alpha Conde wins Guinea vote|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-guinea-election-idUSTRE6AE20P20101116|access-date=31 July 2015|work=Reuters|date=15 November 2010}} Imogen Rose-Smith from Institutional Investor said that his win was "surprising" given his "poor results" in previous elections and in the first round of this election.{{undue weight inline|date=September 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/3599319/asset-management-hedge-funds-and-alternatives/dan-ochs-african-nightmare.html?ArticleId=3599319&single=true#.WQW3KGnyvJQ|title=Dan Och's African Nightmare|website=www.institutionalinvestor.com|access-date=11 June 2017}}

After he was elected, Condé attempted to improve the mining law in Guinea, in consultation with George Soros in order to reduce corruption in the sector and increase the country's benefit. Condé turned to Soros to help draw up a mining code that would reduce corruption and increase the government's stake from 15% to 35%.

According to various documents that were allegedly leaked to the international NGO Global Witness, mining company Sable Mining was involved in helping Condé win the 2010 election in return for mining rights in the country. Global Witness reported that Sable Supported Condé's election campaign, organized logistics and strategic meetings, offered to loan him a helicopter, and paid bribe money to his son, Alpha Mohammed Condé,{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sable-mining-liberia-guinea-idUSL5N18G5AL|title=Guinea says to work with Global Witness over corruption allegations|date=20 May 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=11 June 2017}} in order to secure mining permits in a number of areas, including Mount Nimba. In an email allegedly sent from Alpha Mohammed Condé to Sable in August 2010, he said that backing his father's campaign "will make my dad all the more comfortable to support our business partnerships".{{Cite news|url=https://www.globalwitness.org/thedeceivers/|title=The Deceivers|last=Witness|first=Global|access-date=11 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220020410/https://www.globalwitness.org/thedeceivers/|archive-date=20 February 2017|url-status=dead}}

On 19 July 2011, the presidential residence was shelled, resulting in the death of a presidential guard and the injuries of two others. Condé survived the alleged assassination attempt.[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/07/201172245517512476.html "Guinea arrests troops after assassination bid"], Al Jazeera, 22 July 2011. A former army chief and a member of the presidential guard were arrested hours after the two attacks on his house. The President later spoke to the country saying that "My house was attacked last night, but I congratulate the presidential guard who fought heroically from 3:10 until 5:00 before backup arrived." He also added that his plans for reform would not fail.{{cite news|title=Post-attack, Guinea tells investors country is under control |url=http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/post-attack-guinea-tells-investors-country-is-under-control/ |agency=Associated Press |date=19 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606153853/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/post-attack-guinea-tells-investors-country-is-under-control/ |archive-date=6 June 2012 }}

Three days later at least 41 soldiers were arrested for the assassination attempt. A government official said that many of those arrested had ties to the country's previous military rulers.

The United Nations reacted by saying that there was a greater need for military reforms in Guinea. The UN Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, said that the assault showed "weaknesses remain in Guinea's defence and security systems [and] reinforces the UN's determination to support the country's military reforms. I saw the damage...[the attack] clearly intended to kill the president."

{{See also|2013 Guinea clashes}}

File:Alpha Conde with Obamas 2014.jpg

File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the President of the Republic of Guinea, Mr. Alpha Conde, during the 3rd India Africa Forum Summit, in New Delhi on October 28, 2015 (1).jpg

Condé received criticism during week-long protests and violence in late February and early March 2013, after opposition supporters took to the streets of Conakry to peacefully protest against his attempts to rig the 2013 parliamentary election. The opposition coalition withdrew from the electoral process in mid-February, mainly due to Condé's insistence on using a South African firm, Waymark Infotech,{{cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2014-09-11-sa-spooks-fixed-guinea-poll|title=SA spooks fixed Guinea poll|work=Mail & Guardian|first1=Craig|last1=Mckune|first2=Stefaans|last2=Brummer|date=11 September 2014|access-date=6 January 2023}} to draw up the registered voter list to his political party's benefit.

The ensuing violence resulted in at least twenty deaths and hundreds injured by Condé's security forces, who used live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters.{{cite web| title= Security forces break up Guinea opposition funeral march| publisher= Reuters| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-guinea-clashes-idUKBRE92714Z20130308 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151231092231/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-guinea-clashes-idUKBRE92714Z20130308 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 31 December 2015 | date= 8 March 2013}}{{cite web| title=Guinea electoral body appoints South African firm | author=Salon| work=Salon| url=http://www.salon.com/2013/02/15/guinea_electoral_body_appoints_south_african_firm/| date=15 February 2013}}

Voting finally took place on 28 September. Local and international observers stated that the process was significantly flawed, stating that they observed ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and minors casting votes. These organizational problems and irregularities led to a three-week delay in the announcement of the election results, which in turn led to further tension. Regional UN and EU representatives intervened{{Cite news|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters/guinea|title=World Report 2014: Guinea|date=8 January 2014|work=Human Rights Watch|access-date=17 July 2017|language=en}} and strongly recommended that the situation be addressed peacefully via the legal system.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/29/guinea-elections-alpha-conde-diallo|title=Guinean opposition disputes election|last=Bensimon|first=Cyril|date=29 October 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 July 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}

While the 2014 Ebola epidemic worsened in Liberia and Sierra Leone, Condé downplayed the outbreak and insisted that his government had everything under control.{{Cite web |title=Papers show what lay behind Condé regime's Ebola denialism in Guinea |url=https://theconversation.com/papers-show-what-lay-behind-conde-regimes-ebola-denialism-in-guinea-169166 |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=theconversation.com |date=11 October 2021 |language=en}} Researchers have suggested that the Condé government's interest in attracting foreign investment, particularly in the mining industry, led to him downplaying the spread of the epidemic.{{Cite journal |last=Ostergard |first=Robert L. |date=2021-03-01 |title=Ebola and the pestilence of corporate and governmental corruption in Guinea: Did mining interests exacerbate the largest Ebola outbreak in history (2014–2016)? |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214790X20303026 |journal=The Extractive Industries and Society |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=316–330 |doi=10.1016/j.exis.2020.11.011 |issn=2214-790X|url-access=subscription }}

In response to the outbreak, Condé suspended travel bans, stopped flights and implemented widespread quarantine restrictions. Guinea's economy was damaged by the outbreak. During a two day United Nations conference, Condé was optimistic about receiving US$3.4 billion for the nations effected by the epidemic.{{Cite news |last=Jalabi |first=Raya |date=2015-07-12 |title=Guinea's president on global aid push: 'Ebola forced us to change completely' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/12/guinea-president-alpha-conde-ebola-aid |access-date=2023-07-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In August 2015 Alpha Condé met with Dr Mohamed Belhocine to discuss about the Ebola vaccine. Condé was stressed about how effective was the vaccine. Following that meeting he gave instructions for the establishment of a technical committee for Guinea, tasked with making proposals and recommendations for organizing a national meeting with experts on the Ebola vaccine.{{Cite web |date=19 July 2023 |title=President Alpha Condé : The Ebola virus vaccine is effective. But the fight goes on. We must move quickly towards full-scale production |url=https://www.afro.who.int/news/president-alpha-conde-ebola-virus-vaccine-effective-fight-goes-we-must-move-quickly-towards |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=WHO {{!}} Regional Office for Africa |language=en}}

On 17 October 2015, Condé was re-elected for a second term and given 57.85 percent of the vote, an outright majority in the first round of voting. The election was marred by fraud and mismanagement.{{cite news|title=Guinea president Alpha Conde wins second term with clear majority|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/17/guinea-president-alpha-conde-election|access-date=19 October 2015|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=The Guardian|date=17 October 2015}} Cellou Dalein Diallo, an opposition candidate, rejected the results citing vote rigging by Condé's government, which resorted again to intimidating voters, ballot stuffing, permitting minors to vote, altering the electoral map, and violence against opposition supporters. However, the opposition did not file an official appeal.{{Cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20151017-guinea-conde-wins-election-disputed-presidential-vote|title=Guinea's Condé wins re-election in disputed presidential vote - France 24|date=17 October 2015|work=France 24|access-date=11 June 2017|language=en-US}} Condé was sworn in for his second term on 14 December 2015.[https://news.yahoo.com/guineas-president-sworn-2nd-term-175524861.html "Guinea's president sworn in for 2nd term"], Associated Press, 14 December 2015.File:Acte 2 FNDC sur l'autoroute fidèle Castro.jpg on 24 October 2019]]

File:Vladimir Putin and Alpha Condé (2017-09-28) 3.jpg in 2017]]

In 2016, France 24 released audio recordings that appear to prove that the mining company Rio Tinto paid Guinean government official and Condé's close acquaintance, {{Interlanguage link|François de Combret|fr}}, a sum of $10.5 million for mining rights in the Simandou mine. President Condé said that de Combret acted alone. Audio recordings did not implicate the president as there was no indication in it that he was not simply demanding down payment on the $700 million contract on behalf of the government with no payoff involved. Rio Tinto admitted to the payment in November 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20161201-exclusive-audio-recordings-guinea-president-conde-simandou-mine-bribery-rio-tinto|title=Audio recordings drag Guinea president into mine bribery scandal - France 24|date=1 December 2016|work=France 24|access-date=11 June 2017|language=en-US}}

The 2019–2020 Guinean protests were a series of bloody protests and mass civil unrest in Guinea against the rule of Condé that first broke out on 14 October 2019 against constitutional changes. During the violent clashes, over 90 people may have lost their lives.{{cite web|title=Timeline: A year of bloody protests in Guinea|date=14 October 2020|agency=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/14/timeline-a-year-of-bloody-protests-in-guinea}}

Condé won a third term in October 2020 presidential election, with 59.5% of the vote. Condé stated that a March 2020 constitutional referendum allowed him to run despite a two-term limit. The opposition rejected the results over allegations of fraud, and violent protests erupted across the country.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54657359 |title=Guinea elections: Alpha Condé wins third term amid violent protests |publisher=BBC News |date=24 October 2020 |access-date=30 March 2021}}

Under his administration, the Guinean economy grew at an average 5% and Guineans usually earned about $3.20.{{Cite web |last=Harshé |first=Rajen |date=13 September 2021 |title=The fall of Alpha Condé's regime in Guinea: A critical appraisal |url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-fall-of-alpha-condes-regime-in-guinea-a-critical-appraisal/?amp }}

On 5 September 2021, Condé was captured and overthrown by the military.{{Cite news|last1=Bah|first1=Youssouf|last2=Paquette|first2=Danielle|date=5 September 2021|title=Guinea's president is detained in apparent military takeover|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/05/guinea-alpha-conde-military-takeover/|access-date=5 September 2021}} Promising to change the political landscape of Guinea, the military's Special Forces dissolved the constitution and shut the country's land and air borders.{{Cite web|date=6 September 2021|title=Elite Guinea army unit says it has toppled president|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/heavy-gunfire-heard-guinea-capital-conakry-reuters-witness-2021-09-05/|access-date=13 September 2021|website=Reuters|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=5 September 2021|title=Elite Guinea army unit say they dissolved the government and the constitution of the West African country|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/05/elite-guinea-army-unit-said-it-has-toppled-long-time-president-alpha-conde.html|access-date=13 September 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Online|first=Peace FM|title=Coup Underway In Burkina Faso, President Detained By Military|url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/politics/202201/459323.php|access-date=24 January 2022|website=Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news}} Lieutenant-Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the head of the Special Forces, said that government corruption and mismanagement precipitated the coup.{{Cite web|date=6 September 2021|title=Guinea's would-be 'Mandela' was an agent and casualty of democratic backsliding|url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210906-how-guinea-s-would-be-mandela-became-agent-casualty-of-west-africa-s-democratic-backsliding|access-date=13 September 2021|website=France 24|language=en}}

Condé was released from military detention and was sent to the residence of his wife, Djene Kaba Condé, in Conakry; she thanked the military junta for releasing her husband and "guaranteeing him treatment worthy of his rank".{{cite web|title=Guinea's junta says ousted leader Alpha Condé has returned home|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20211130-guinea-s-junta-says-ousted-leader-alpha-cond%C3%A9-has-returned-home|website=RFI|language=en|date=30 November 2021|access-date=2 December 2021}}{{cite web|title=La junta militar de Guinea asegura que Condé ha sido trasladado a la vivienda de su mujer en Conakry|url=https://www.europapress.es/internacional/noticia-junta-militar-guinea-asegura-conde-sido-trasladado-vivienda-mujer-conakry-20211130142250.html|publisher=Europa Press|date=30 November 2021|access-date=2 December 2021}}{{cite web|title=Guinée: Alpha Condé transféré dans la résidence de son épouse|url=https://matinlibre.com/2021/12/01/guinee-alpha-conde-transfere-dans-la-residence-de-son-epouse/|website=Matin Libre|language=fr-FR|access-date=2 December 2021|publication-date=}}

• {{flag|Guinea}}:
• 70px Grand Cross with Collar of the National Order of Merit

• {{flag|Namibia}}:
• 70px Grand Commander of the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia mirabilis (9 May 2019){{cite tweet|number=1126435199410212864|user=NamPresidency|title=President @hagegeingob honours H.E Prof. @AlphaCondePRG as he joins the revered Alumni of the Namibian National Hon… |date=9 May 2019}}
• {{flag|Russia}}:
• 70px Recipient of the Order of Friendship (28 September 2017)

Condé is a Muslim.{{Cite web|url=http://www.african-bulletin.com/6160-guinea-no-more-power-based-on-ethnicity.html|title=Guinea: No more power based on ethnicity|date=25 November 2010}} He was married to Djene Kaba Condé until her death in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2011/april/20110415guinea|title=Guinea's President and First Lady to attend the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS|website=www.unaids.org}} Condé has one son, Alpha Mohamed Condé.

On 9 December 2022, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Condé and over forty others for acts of corruption and human rights violations.{{Cite web |date=9 December 2022 |title=Mali – Guinée : Alpha Condé et Karim Keïta sous sanctions des États-Unis |url=https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1399538/politique/mali-guinee-alpha-conde-et-karim-keita-sous-sanctions-des-etats-unis/ |access-date=29 July 2023 |website=Jeune Afrique |language=fr-FR}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Alpha Condé}}

• {{cite book|last1=Bothorel|first1=Jean|last2=Condé|first2=Alpha|title=Un Africain engagé : ce que je veux pour la Guinée|date=2010|publisher=Jean Picollet|location=Paris|isbn=9782864772446|oclc=650206262}}

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Category:1938 births

Category:Guinean democracy activists

Category:Guinean Muslims

Category:Guinean prisoners and detainees

Category:Living people

Category:Mandinka

Category:People from Boké

Category:Presidents of Guinea

Category:Prisoners and detainees of Guinea

Category:Leaders ousted by a coup

Category:Rally of the Guinean People politicians

Category:Recipients of Guinean presidential pardons

Category:Guinean expatriates in France

Category:University of Paris alumni

Category:Academic staff of Pantheon-Sorbonne University

Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned

Category:Muslim socialists

Category:21st-century Guinean politicians