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Alpha Condé
Alpha Condé is a Guinean politician who served as the country's president from 2010 to 2021. He was Guinea's first freely elected president, winning elections in 2010 and 2015, but his controversial third term in 2020 led to protests. Condé was overthrown by the military in 2021.
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ALPHA CONDE
Alpha Condé, born on March 4, 1938, in Boké, Guinea, is a notable political figure who became the first democratically elected President of Guinea. His early life took a significant turn when he left for France at the age of 15. In France, Condé was actively engaged in student politics, contributing to various organizations such as the National Union of Higher Education and the Association of Guinean Students in France. His leadership skills became evident as he served as the Executive Coordinator of African National Groups within the Black African Students Federation from 1967 to 1975. Condé's academic prowess shone through when he completed a master's thesis in political science titled Le P.D.G. et le peuple de Guinée in 1965.
Condé's political career began in earnest during Guinea's first multiparty presidential election on December 19, 1993, where he garnered 18 percent of the vote. Although he did not win, the election highlighted his influence in Guinea's political landscape, especially as he contested allegations of electoral fraud. In the following presidential election in 1998, Condé received 17.6 percent of the vote, again finishing behind Lansana Conté, the incumbent president. Following this election, Condé faced serious charges, including attempting to leave the country illegally and recruiting forces to destabilize the government, leading to his arrest.
His trial, marred by controversy over legal representation and access to defense lawyers, resulted in a five-year prison sentence. However, he was pardoned in May 2001, with restrictions on his political activities. Following his release, Condé briefly lived in France before returning to Guinea in 2005, where he began organizing the Rally of the Guinean People (RPG) party.
After the death of Conté and the subsequent military coup in December 2008, Condé initially supported the junta led by Moussa Dadis Camara. However, his relationship with the junta soured, leading to political opposition as he sought to reestablish himself in the political arena. Condé's persistence paid off when he emerged victorious in the presidential election of 2010, securing 52.5 percent of the vote in the second round. His administration focused on reforming Guinea's mining laws to reduce corruption, seeking to increase the government’s stake in the mining sector and attract foreign investment.
However, allegations emerged suggesting that his campaign was financially supported by mining companies in exchange for favorable mining rights. His presidency was marked by a significant event on July 19, 2011, when his residence was shelled in an alleged assassination attempt, which he survived.
Condé faced considerable criticism during the violent protests in 2013 against his government's attempts to influence the parliamentary election, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. The situation further deteriorated during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, which Condé initially downplayed, focusing instead on attracting foreign investment.
In the 2015 presidential election, Condé was re-elected with 57.85 percent of the vote amidst allegations of fraud and electoral misconduct. His administration faced ongoing allegations of corruption, particularly concerning payments made by mining companies to government officials. The 2019–2020 protests against constitutional changes highlighted widespread discontent with his administration.
In October 2020, Condé won a controversial third term amid allegations of electoral fraud following a constitutional referendum that allowed him to bypass the two-term limit. Under his leadership, Guinea's economy saw growth, yet this was overshadowed by increasing public dissatisfaction and allegations of government corruption.
On September 5, 2021, Alpha Condé was captured and overthrown in a military coup, which was attributed to widespread corruption and mismanagement under his regime. Following his release from military detention, he was placed in the care of his wife, Djene Kaba Conde who guaranteed treating him worthy of his rank.
GOVERNING TIME LINE
Alpha Condé became the President of Guinea on January 21, 2011, after winning the first democratic elections since military rule. He was re-elected in 2015 and 2020, amid growing opposition and allegations of authoritarianism. His presidency ended on September 5, 2021, when he was ousted in a military coup and subsequently arrested.