Diarra Traoré
Encyclopedia
Diarra Traoré was a Guinea
n soldier and politician. He served as Prime Minister of Guinea from 1984 to 1985 as a member of a junta led by Lansana Conté
. In 1985, after an attempted coup d'état
against him, Conté had Traoré executed.
in March 1984, Traoré was a colonel in Guinea's army. On 3 April 1984, Traoré supported a coup d'état led by Lieutenant Colonel Lansana Conté. The coup ousted interim President Louis Lansana Beavogui
and dismantled the regime of the Democratic Party of Guinea. Conté made himself President, and he appointed Traoré to be the Prime Minister. Conté, Traoré, and others governed as a junta
—the Military Committee of National Recovery (CMRN).
By July 1985, Conté had demoted Traoré to Minister of State for National Education. On 4 July 1985, soldiers loyal to Conté, who was attending a summit in Togo
, thwarted a coup d'état. Conté, a member of the Susu people
(or Sousou), used the opportunity to eliminate rival soldiers from the Malinké ethnic group, including Traoré. Conté's forces swiftly captured Traoré, and showed him on television being brutally assaulted. Conté's forces promptly executed Traoré and approximately one hundred other military personnel, many of whom were Malinké.
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
n soldier and politician. He served as Prime Minister of Guinea from 1984 to 1985 as a member of a junta led by Lansana Conté
Lansana Conté
Lansana Conté was the second President of Guinea from 3 April 1984 until his death. He was a Muslim and a member of the Susu ethnic group.-Early life:...
. In 1985, after an attempted coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
against him, Conté had Traoré executed.
Career
At the death of Guinea's President Ahmed Sékou TouréAhmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré was an African political leader and President of Guinea from 1958 to his death in 1984...
in March 1984, Traoré was a colonel in Guinea's army. On 3 April 1984, Traoré supported a coup d'état led by Lieutenant Colonel Lansana Conté. The coup ousted interim President Louis Lansana Beavogui
Louis Lansana Beavogui
Louis Lansana Beavogui was a Guinean politician. He was Prime Minister from 1972 to 1984 and was briefly interim President in 1984.-Background and political career:...
and dismantled the regime of the Democratic Party of Guinea. Conté made himself President, and he appointed Traoré to be the Prime Minister. Conté, Traoré, and others governed as a junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
—the Military Committee of National Recovery (CMRN).
By July 1985, Conté had demoted Traoré to Minister of State for National Education. On 4 July 1985, soldiers loyal to Conté, who was attending a summit in Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, thwarted a coup d'état. Conté, a member of the Susu people
Susu people
The Soso are a major Mande ethnic group living primarily in Guinea. Smaller communities are also located in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Mali. The Susu are descendants of the thirteenth century Mali Empire...
(or Sousou), used the opportunity to eliminate rival soldiers from the Malinké ethnic group, including Traoré. Conté's forces swiftly captured Traoré, and showed him on television being brutally assaulted. Conté's forces promptly executed Traoré and approximately one hundred other military personnel, many of whom were Malinké.