Lansana Diané
Encyclopedia
Lansana Diané was a general and a minister in the cabinet
of Ahmed Sekou Touré
, President of Guinea
during the First Republic (1958–1984). The military government that took power after Touré's death executed him in 1985.
from the same village as Sekou Touré.
He became one of the leaders of the African Democratic Rally
in Guinea in the lead-up to independence from France in 1958.
At a meeting in January 1957 he accused the Church of having worked for colonialism, and said that both the state and the church should be liquidated, since they were unsuitable for the African mentality.
After independence, Diané was appointed governor of Kankan
and Nzérékoré
.
In 1960, General Diané was leader of the Guinean contingent in the United Nations Operation in the Congo
, but his unit was withdrawn by Sekou Touré after the death of Patrice Lumumba
early in 1961, because Touré did not believe that the United Nations
had adequately protected the Congolese leader.
, where he help to suppress ongoing resistance to the government of Sekou Touré.
On 17 November 1965 Diané became Minister of the People's Army and Civil Service.
In September 1966, he accompanied Ismaël Touré
, Minister of Economic Development and Public Works on a visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. In August 1968 he returned to Bonn, where he met with his counterpart.
Following the unsuccessful "Operation Green Sea" attempt by Portuguese
troops to overthrow the regime in November 1970, many of Touré's opponents were rounded up and jailed in Camp Boiro
.
Diané was captured during the raid, but managed to escape.
He was an active participant in the mock trials and executions that followed.
He was President of a three-man "revolutionary committee" that interrogated the prisoners.
In 1972 Diané was Party Inspector General.
In May 1972, he was among the members of the National Politbureau who welcomed Fidel Castro
of Cuba
on his visit to Guinea.
From 1976 until 1 June 1979 he was Minister of Justice.
In the cabinet announced on 1 June 1979 he was Minister of the People's Army.
He pleaded that Touré had been the cause of all the abuses, and his ministers would have died if they had opposed him.
However, he was unsuccessful in his pleas, and that night the army took over control of the country.
He was imprisoned by the Lansana Conté
government after the coup, and in 1985 was executed in Kindia
.
Cabinet of the First Republic of Guinea
The Cabinet of the First Republic of Guinea was the governing body of Guinea from independence on 28 September 1958 until the death of President Ahmed Sékou Touré on 26 March 1984, followed by a bloodless coup by Colonel Lansana Conté on 5 April 1984...
of Ahmed Sekou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré was an African political leader and President of Guinea from 1958 to his death in 1984...
, President of Guinea
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...
during the First Republic (1958–1984). The military government that took power after Touré's death executed him in 1985.
Early career
Diané was a MalinkéMandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
from the same village as Sekou Touré.
He became one of the leaders of the African Democratic Rally
African Democratic Rally
The African Democratic Rally was a political party in French West Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a...
in Guinea in the lead-up to independence from France in 1958.
At a meeting in January 1957 he accused the Church of having worked for colonialism, and said that both the state and the church should be liquidated, since they were unsuitable for the African mentality.
After independence, Diané was appointed governor of Kankan
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
and Nzérékoré
Nzérékoré
Nzérékoré, also spelled N'Zérékoré, is the largest city in the Guinée Forestière region of south-eastern Guinea and is capital of the Nzérékoré Prefecture. It is Guinea's third largest city . It was the centre of a rising against French rule in 1911. It is now known as a market town, and for its...
.
In 1960, General Diané was leader of the Guinean contingent in the United Nations Operation in the Congo
United Nations Operation in the Congo
Opération des Nations unies au Congo, abbreviated ONUC, was a United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo that was established after United Nations Security Council Resolution 143 of July 14, 1960...
, but his unit was withdrawn by Sekou Touré after the death of Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese independence leader and the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence from Belgium in June 1960. Only ten weeks later, Lumumba's government was deposed in a coup during the Congo Crisis...
early in 1961, because Touré did not believe that the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
had adequately protected the Congolese leader.
Cabinet Minister
On his return to Guinea, General Diané was appointed Minister for LabéLabé
Labé is the main city and administrative capital of the Fouta Djallon region of Guinea. It has a population of about 58,649 . It is the second largest city in the country after the capital Conakry...
, where he help to suppress ongoing resistance to the government of Sekou Touré.
On 17 November 1965 Diané became Minister of the People's Army and Civil Service.
In September 1966, he accompanied Ismaël Touré
Ismaël Touré
- Bibliography :...
, Minister of Economic Development and Public Works on a visit to the Federal Republic of Germany. In August 1968 he returned to Bonn, where he met with his counterpart.
Following the unsuccessful "Operation Green Sea" attempt by Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
troops to overthrow the regime in November 1970, many of Touré's opponents were rounded up and jailed in Camp Boiro
Camp Boiro
Camp Boiro or Camp Mamadou Boiro is a defunct Guinean concentration camp within Conakry city.During the regime of President Ahmed Sékou Touré, thousands of political opponents were imprisoned at the camp....
.
Diané was captured during the raid, but managed to escape.
He was an active participant in the mock trials and executions that followed.
He was President of a three-man "revolutionary committee" that interrogated the prisoners.
In 1972 Diané was Party Inspector General.
In May 1972, he was among the members of the National Politbureau who welcomed Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on his visit to Guinea.
From 1976 until 1 June 1979 he was Minister of Justice.
In the cabinet announced on 1 June 1979 he was Minister of the People's Army.
Fall from power
After the death of Sekou Touré on 26 March 1984, the government attempted to retain power. Hearing rumors of a military coup, they dispatched Diané to army headquarters on 2 April to attempt to persuade the leaders not to launch a coup.He pleaded that Touré had been the cause of all the abuses, and his ministers would have died if they had opposed him.
However, he was unsuccessful in his pleas, and that night the army took over control of the country.
He was imprisoned by the 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:...
government after the coup, and in 1985 was executed in Kindia
Kindia
Kindia is the third largest city in Guinea, lying about 85 miles north east of the nation's capital Conakry.Population 181,126 . - Overview :...
.