Mamadi Keïta
Encyclopedia
Mamadi Keïta was a leading Guinea
n politician and member of the Politburo of the First Republic of Guinea.
in 1933.
He went to Paris, France for his higher education, where he studied philosophy.
After becoming leader of the West African Student's Organization, he was expelled from France
in 1961.
He earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Geneva
.
Returning to Guinea, he became in turn professor, dean and president of the University of Conakry.
He became a member of the Central Committee for ideological affairs of the Democratic Party of Guinea.
In January 1971 he was reported to have been a member of the firing squad that shot the former politician Ms. Camara Loffo.
He assisted in the interrogation of Diallo Telli
, who was starved to death at Camp Boiro
in March 1977.
In 1972, he was leader of the left-wing faction in the Politburo, and was engaged in a struggle with Ismaël Touré
to be recognized as the next in line to succeed the president.
At the 9th party congress that year, the right-center took control.
Sékou Touré remained president and Lansana Beavogui was given the newly created title of Prime Minister.
Ismaël Touré gained the powerful position of Minister of the Economy and Finance, while Mamadi Keïta was relegated to Minister of Culture and Education. His brother Seydou Keïta
became ambassador to Western Europe.
In the summer of 1974 he attended the Sixth Pan-African Congress
in Dar es Salaam
, Tanzania
, where he was chairman of the Political Committee, with Marcelino dos Santos
of FRELIMO as vice-chairman.
In October 1980, as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research he attended an Executive Board meeting of UNESCO
, held in Belgrade
, where he was appointed to the Special Committee for the triennium and the Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations.
In November 1982, he attended the first session of the Executive Council of ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Rabat
, Morocco
.
He was present at the third ISESCO session held in Casablanca
in June 1983.
In December 1983 he was elected a vice-chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board.
After the political coup that followed the death of Sekou Toure, he was arrested on 3 April 1984.
In July 1985 he was executed after the attempted coup led by Diarra Traoré
.
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 politician and member of the Politburo of the First Republic of Guinea.
Early years
Mamadi Keïta was born in KankanKankan
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....
in 1933.
He went to Paris, France for his higher education, where he studied philosophy.
After becoming leader of the West African Student's Organization, he was expelled from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1961.
He earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
.
Returning to Guinea, he became in turn professor, dean and president of the University of Conakry.
Political career
Mamadi Keïta was the half-brother of President Sékou Touré's wife, Andrée, which gained him admission to the inner circle of power in the Touré regime.He became a member of the Central Committee for ideological affairs of the Democratic Party of Guinea.
In January 1971 he was reported to have been a member of the firing squad that shot the former politician Ms. Camara Loffo.
He assisted in the interrogation of Diallo Telli
Diallo Telli
Boubacar Diallo Telli was a Guinean diplomat and politician. He helped found the Organisation of African Unity and was the first secretary-general of the OAU between 1964 and 1972...
, who was starved to death at 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....
in March 1977.
In 1972, he was leader of the left-wing faction in the Politburo, and was engaged in a struggle with Ismaël Touré
Ismaël Touré
- Bibliography :...
to be recognized as the next in line to succeed the president.
At the 9th party congress that year, the right-center took control.
Sékou Touré remained president and Lansana Beavogui was given the newly created title of Prime Minister.
Ismaël Touré gained the powerful position of Minister of the Economy and Finance, while Mamadi Keïta was relegated to Minister of Culture and Education. His brother Seydou Keïta
Seydou Keita
Seydou Keita or Seydou Keïta may refer to:* Seydou Keïta , Malian photographer* Seydou Keita , Malian footballer...
became ambassador to Western Europe.
In the summer of 1974 he attended the Sixth Pan-African Congress
Pan-African Congress
The Pan-African Congress was a series of five meetings in 1919, 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1945 that were intended to address the issues facing Africa due to European colonization of much of the continent....
in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, where he was chairman of the Political Committee, with Marcelino dos Santos
Marcelino dos Santos
Marcelino dos Santos is a Mozambican poet, revolutionary, and statesman. As a young man he travelled to Portugal, and Paris, France for an education. He was a founding member of the Frente de Libertacao de Mocambique , in 1962; and served as the party's deputy president from 1969 to 1977...
of FRELIMO as vice-chairman.
In October 1980, as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research he attended an Executive Board meeting of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, held in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, where he was appointed to the Special Committee for the triennium and the Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations.
In November 1982, he attended the first session of the Executive Council of ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Rabat
Rabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
He was present at the third ISESCO session held in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
in June 1983.
In December 1983 he was elected a vice-chairman of the UNESCO Executive Board.
After the political coup that followed the death of Sekou Toure, he was arrested on 3 April 1984.
In July 1985 he was executed after the attempted coup led by Diarra Traoré
Diarra Traoré
Diarra Traoré was a Guinean 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....
.