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Aboubacar Somparé
Aboubacar Somparé.jpeg
President of Guinea
Acting
In office
22 December 2008 – 24 December 2008
Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souaré
Preceded by Lansana Conte
Succeeded by Moussa Dadis Camara
Guinea's Ambassador to France
In office
1978–1984
Secretary-General of the Unity and Progress Party
In office
1995–2002
President of the National Assembly of Guinea
In office
2002–2008
Personal details
Born
Aboubacar Somparé

(1944-08-31)31 August 1944
Dakonta, French Guinea
Died 2 November 2017(2017-11-02) (aged 73)
Ratoma, Conakry, Guinea
Political party Unity and Progress Party

El Hajj Aboubacar Somparé (N'Ko: ߊߓߎߓߊߞߊߙ ߛߐ߲߬ߔߊ߬ߙߋ߫; 31 August 1944 – 2 November 2017) was an important politician from Guinea, a country in West Africa. He served as the President of the National Assembly of Guinea from 2002 to 2008. Before that, he was Guinea's Ambassador to France and a leader in the Unity and Progress Party (PUP).

Early Life and Career

Aboubacar Somparé was born in a place called Dakonta in 1944. He worked in education and government for many years.

Some of his early jobs included:

  • Regional Director of Education in Labé (1970–1973)
  • Director-General of Secondary Education (1973–1976)
  • Director-General of Information Services (1976–1978)

From 1978 to 1984, he was Guinea's Ambassador to Paris, France. After returning home, he continued to work in government. He was also the Rector (head) of the University of Conakry from 1987 to 1989.

In 1995, Somparé was elected to the National Assembly. This is like the parliament or congress in other countries. At the same time, he became the Secretary-General of the Unity and Progress Party (PUP). He held these important roles until 2002.

Leading the National Assembly

In 2002, Aboubacar Somparé was re-elected to the National Assembly. The President of Guinea, Lansana Conté, chose him to become the President of the National Assembly. This is a very important position, as it means he was the leader of the country's law-making body.

He was officially elected to this role on 23 September 2002. He received strong support from the other members of the Assembly.

As President of the National Assembly, Somparé was the person who would take over as President of Guinea if the current president could no longer serve. This made his role very significant. In 2006, when President Conté went to Switzerland for medical treatment, Somparé reportedly met with military officers to discuss what would happen if the president could not return.

In 2008, Somparé spoke about the upcoming presidential election. He believed that President Conté, who was very ill, would not run for re-election. He also talked about why parliamentary elections had been delayed. He said elections should only happen if they help make society stronger and more democratic.

Events of December 2008

On 23 December 2008, Aboubacar Somparé made a sad announcement on television. He told the country that President Conté had died the day before after a long illness.

According to Guinea's laws, the President of the National Assembly (which was Somparé) was supposed to become the temporary President of the Republic. A new presidential election would then need to be held within 60 days. Somparé asked the head of the Supreme Court to officially declare the presidency empty and follow the constitution. The Prime Minister and the head of the army were with Somparé during his announcement.

However, just a few hours later, a military group announced on television that they had taken control of the country. This group called itself the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD). They said they had dissolved the government and suspended the constitution.

Somparé went into hiding because the new military leaders were looking for him. He asked other countries around the world to help prevent the military from stopping Guinea's democratic process. A few days later, he attended a meeting called by the military leaders.

Later Political Life

After the military took over, Somparé's political party, the PUP, was no longer in power. In 2009, there were discussions within the PUP about changing its leadership. Somparé and another party leader, Sékou Konaté, settled their differences in March 2009.

Somparé mostly stayed out of the public eye for a year after the military takeover. Unlike many other officials from President Conté's time, the military government left him alone.

In March 2010, Somparé was chosen as the PUP's candidate for the presidential election that was planned for June 2010.

Death

Aboubacar Somparé passed away on 2 November 2017.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Aboubacar Somparé para niños

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