Lansana Conté facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lansana Conté
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Conté in 2001
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| 2nd President of Guinea | |
| In office 5 April 1984 – 22 December 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Diarra Traoré Sidya Touré Lamine Sidimé François Lonseny Fall Cellou Dalein Diallo Eugène Camara Lansana Kouyaté Ahmed Tidiane Souaré |
| Preceded by | Louis Lansana Beavogui (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Moussa Dadis Camara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 November 1934 Dubréka, French Guinea |
| Died | 22 December 2008 (aged 74) Conakry, Guinea |
| Resting place | Lansanaya |
| Political party | PUP |
| Spouse | Hadja Kadiatou Seth Conté |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | French Army Guinean Army |
| Years of service |  France 1955–1958 Guinea 1958–1991 |
| Rank | General |
Lansana Conté (30 November 1934 – 22 December 2008) was a military officer and politician from Guinea. He became the second President of Guinea on 3 April 1984. He led the country until his death on 22 December 2008. Conté took power after a military takeover.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lansana Conté was born in Moussayah Loumbaya, a village in Dubréka, Guinea. He was a member of the Susu ethnic group. He believed he was born in 1934, but his exact birthdate was not known.
He went to a local Quranic school and then Dubréka primary school. Later, he studied at military schools in Bingerville, Côte d'Ivoire, and Saint Louis, Senegal.
Military Career and Government Roles
In 1955, Conté joined the French Army. He served in Algeria during its war for independence in 1957. After Guinea became independent from France in 1958, Conté joined the new Guinean army as a sergeant.
He continued his military training and was promoted several times. In 1970, he helped defend Guinea when Portuguese forces and Guinean rebels invaded the country. For his service, he was promoted to Captain in 1971.
In 1973, he became a commander in the Boké area. His job was to help the independence fighters in nearby Portuguese Guinea. He was later named assistant Chief of Staff of the army in 1975.
Conté also took part in talks to settle a border dispute with Guinea-Bissau in 1977. In 1980, he was elected to the National Assembly, which was Guinea's parliament.
Becoming President
The 1984 Military Takeover
Ahmed Sékou Touré, Guinea's first president, died on 26 March 1984. The Prime Minister, Louis Lansana Beavogui, became acting president. However, on 3 April, Lansana Conté led a military coup that removed the government from power.
Conté said that Touré's government had treated people unfairly. He ordered the release of 250 political prisoners. He also encouraged about 200,000 Guineans who had left the country to return home. A well-known detention center called Camp Boiro was closed.
After the takeover, Guinea's constitution was stopped, and political activities were banned. A group of 25 military officers, called the Military Committee of National Restoration (CMRN), took control. Conté was named President of the Republic on 5 April.
In 1985, some soldiers tried to overthrow Conté while he was away. Soldiers loyal to Conté stopped this attempt. Conté used this chance to remove rival soldiers from other ethnic groups. On 3 April 1990, Conté was promoted to the rank of Army General.
Changes in Economy and Politics
President Conté made some economic changes. He worked to improve Guinea's economy and encouraged foreign investments.
In the early 1990s, Conté began to change Guinea into a multiparty country. This meant that more than one political party could exist. A new constitution was approved in 1990. The military committee was replaced by a mix of civilian and military officials in 1991. Political parties were allowed again in 1992.
Leading Guinea as President
First Elections and Challenges
Guinea held its first multi-party presidential election since independence on 19 December 1993. Conté, leading the new Party of Unity and Progress (PUP), won with 51.7% of the votes. This was just enough to avoid a second round of voting. Some opposition parties claimed the election was not fair.
Even though Conté said he supported democracy, his government still had strong control. However, he had less power than the previous president, and his rule was generally less strict.
In 1996, Conté's government faced a challenge when some soldiers rebelled over their salaries. This led to a coup attempt, but it failed. The presidential home was damaged, and some civilians were killed.
Later Elections and Health Issues
Conté won a second five-year term in the 1998 presidential election. In 2001, a vote was held to change the constitution. This change would remove limits on how many terms a president could serve and extend the term from five to seven years. The change was approved, but opposition parties said the results were unfair.
He won a third presidential election in 2003 with 95.6% of the votes. Most other candidates did not take part, believing the election would not be fair. By this time, Conté's health was getting worse. He had diabetes and heart problems. Many people wondered if he could finish another full term. He promised to fight against misuse of power when he was sworn in on 19 January 2004.
In 2005, shots were reportedly fired at his car in what seemed to be an attempt to harm him. Conté was not hurt. He later said on TV that he survived because it was not his time to die.
Conté's health continued to be a concern. He traveled to Morocco and Switzerland for medical care in 2006. During this time, there were riots in Conakry over the price of food and fuel, leading to deaths. A human rights group also reported concerns about unfair treatment of people in Guinea.
In 2006, an organization called Transparency International said that Guinea was one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This meant that people in power often misused their positions for personal gain.
Strikes and New Prime Ministers
In January 2007, a large strike happened across Guinea. People were protesting Conté's leadership. The strike lasted for more than two weeks, with many people marching in the streets. There were violent clashes with police, and many protesters died or were injured.
The strike ended when Conté agreed to appoint a new Prime Minister and lower prices for food and fuel. He appointed Eugène Camara as Prime Minister, but this was rejected by the opposition. The strike started again. On 26 February, Conté appointed Lansana Kouyaté as the new Prime Minister, chosen from a list provided by unions.
In May 2008, Conté surprised many by firing Kouyaté and replacing him with Ahmed Tidiane Souaré. This move was seen as Conté strengthening his own power.
Death and Aftermath
Lansana Conté died on 22 December 2008, at 6:45 PM local time. The President of the National Assembly, Aboubacar Somparé, announced his death on television early on 23 December. He said Conté had died "after a long illness." Conté had been ill for some time and had traveled for medical treatment often.
According to Guinea's constitution, the President of the National Assembly should have become acting president. A new presidential election was supposed to be held within 60 days.
However, just six hours after Conté's death was announced, a group of soldiers called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) announced a military takeover on television. They said they had dissolved the government and stopped the constitution.
Conté's funeral was held in Conakry on 26 December. His body was displayed in the parliament building and then taken to the national stadium, where over 20,000 people gathered. Leaders from neighboring countries also attended. He was buried in his home village of Lansanaya.
See also
In Spanish: Lansana Conté para niños
