Siaka Touré
Encyclopedia
Siaka Touré was the commandant of Camp Boiro
in Conakry
, Guinea
during the regime of president Ahmed Sékou Touré
. During this period, many of the president's political opponents died in the camp.
Siaka Touré was born in 1935 in Kankan
, and studied in Paris and Moscow.
He was a nephew (or perhaps cousin) of the president, Sékou Touré.
He became an army officer, and also served as minister of Transport.
After the Labé plot was announced by the government in February 1969, Captain Siaka Touré became a member of the three-person Revolutionary Committee along with the President and general Lansana Diané
, the Minister of Defense.
Siaka had a collection of cars which he confiscated at will, imprisoning those who had the arrogance to protest.
During the coup attempt ("Operation Green Sea") of November 1970, when Portuguese troops and Guinean fighters invaded Conakry and seized Camp Boiro among other locations, Siaka managed to hide in the Camayenne hotel and avoid capture.
After the coup attempt failed, many opponents of the regime were rounded up and imprisoned in camp Boiro.
Siaka Touré presented a mild-mannered facade during interrogations, often proposing to act as an intermediary between the prisoner and his family.
He was the sole master of the camp, allowing nobody to enter of leave without his permission.
During his long tenure, many political prisoners died, some executed, some as a result of torture, and some from the "diète noire", or "black diet", meaning that they received no food and no water.
In 1977, there was demonstration in Conakry by women complaining of regulations against private traders.
Siaka Touré met the demonstrators with a detachment of troops, and when they failed to stop ordered the troops to open fire.
One woman was killed and many others were arrested.
After the death of Sékou Touré in March 1984, Siaka Touré was imprisoned by the military regime that took power. Following an attempted coup by Diarra Traoré
in July 1985, he was executed along with other members of the former regime such as Ismaël Touré
, Seydou Keita and Moussa Diakité
.
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 Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
, 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 regime of president Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré was an African political leader and President of Guinea from 1958 to his death in 1984...
. During this period, many of the president's political opponents died in the camp.
Siaka Touré was born in 1935 in 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 studied in Paris and Moscow.
He was a nephew (or perhaps cousin) of the president, Sékou Touré.
He became an army officer, and also served as minister of Transport.
After the Labé plot was announced by the government in February 1969, Captain Siaka Touré became a member of the three-person Revolutionary Committee along with the President and general Lansana Diané
Lansana Diané
Lansana Diané was a general and a minister in the cabinet of Ahmed Sekou Touré, President of Guinea during the First Republic...
, the Minister of Defense.
Siaka had a collection of cars which he confiscated at will, imprisoning those who had the arrogance to protest.
During the coup attempt ("Operation Green Sea") of November 1970, when Portuguese troops and Guinean fighters invaded Conakry and seized Camp Boiro among other locations, Siaka managed to hide in the Camayenne hotel and avoid capture.
After the coup attempt failed, many opponents of the regime were rounded up and imprisoned in camp Boiro.
Siaka Touré presented a mild-mannered facade during interrogations, often proposing to act as an intermediary between the prisoner and his family.
He was the sole master of the camp, allowing nobody to enter of leave without his permission.
During his long tenure, many political prisoners died, some executed, some as a result of torture, and some from the "diète noire", or "black diet", meaning that they received no food and no water.
In 1977, there was demonstration in Conakry by women complaining of regulations against private traders.
Siaka Touré met the demonstrators with a detachment of troops, and when they failed to stop ordered the troops to open fire.
One woman was killed and many others were arrested.
After the death of Sékou Touré in March 1984, Siaka Touré was imprisoned by the military regime that took power. Following an attempted coup 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....
in July 1985, he was executed along with other members of the former regime such as Ismaël Touré
Ismaël Touré
- Bibliography :...
, Seydou Keita and Moussa Diakité
Moussa Diakité
Moussa Diakité was a Guinean politician during the presidency of Ahmed Sékou Touré.He was a member of the national Politburo.His wife, Tata Keïta, was half sister of the President's wife Andrée, and his son married the eldest daughter of Ismael Touré, the president's brother.In March 1952 Diakité...
.