Alpha Oumar Barry
Guinean politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alpha Oumar Barry (1925–1977) was a Guinean politician, a member of the cabinet of President Ahmed Sékou Touré in the first Guinean republic, who was later arrested and died at Camp Boiro.
Alpha Oumar Barry | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State for Exchange | |
| In office 19 June 1972 – 2 August 1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 1926 Hamidouya |
| Died | February 26, 1977 (aged 49) |
Alpha Oumar was born in 1925, and trained as a doctor in Bordeaux, France. He was appointed chief medical officer in Kindia.[1] Alpha Oumar was appointed minister of state for Exchange in the cabinet announced on 19 June 1972.[2] He was also a member of the political bureau of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG).[3]
At a press conference on 2 August 1976, Sekou Toure announced the arrest in Conakry of several plotters, including Telli Diallo, Alpha Oumar Barry, Lamine Kouyaté and Alioune Dramé.[4] Both Alpha Oumar and Alioune Dramé had been childhood friends of Telli Diallo.[5] After his arrest, the camp commandant Siaka Touré transmitted a series of messages to Alpha Oumar from President Touré demanding that he confess to being a plotter to save the face of the revolution. Eventually Alpha Oumar gave in and made a confession.[6] On 12 February 1977, Alpha Oumar and others were placed on a "black diet", meaning they were deprived of food and water. He died on 26 February 1977.[7]