Gambiaj.com – (CONAKRY, Guinea) – The death of former Guinean Prime Minister and Union of Republican Forces (UFR) leader Sidya Touré has brought together political figures from across Guinea’s often-divided political landscape, with tributes highlighting his long career in public service, political convictions, and commitment to the country.
Touré died in Paris on September 25, 2026, aged 81, while receiving medical treatment. His death was announced by officials and former cadres of the UFR, the party he led for years. He had served as prime minister under former President Lansana Conté and later as a high representative of deposed former President Alpha Condé.
Tributes Across Political Divides
Former president Alpha Condé, who at different periods stood on opposing sides of Guinea’s political divide with Touré, described the late politician as a “Statesman” and a “Servant of the Republic”.
Condé recalled that their political trajectories had been marked by deep disagreements, but said those differences did not erase his respect for Touré’s contribution to Guinea. He also recalled Touré’s decision to serve as his high representative when the two politicians were able to put their differences aside in what Condé described as the national interest.
The tribute from Condé also drew attention to the final years of Touré’s life in exile, noting that a man who had devoted much of his life to Guinea eventually died away from the country.
Cellou Dalein Diallo, another veteran opposition leader, also paid tribute to Touré, describing him as a “friend and companion of the road and struggle.” Their political relationship had developed around shared opposition to aspects of Guinea’s successive political orders.
For Dr Ousmane Kaba, leader of the Party of Democrats for Hope (PADES), the loss was more personal. Kaba said he had known Touré for nearly three decades and regarded him as a “big brother”. Their relationship dated back to the late 1990s, when Kaba served in Touré’s government and worked with him on economic issues.
A Figure Who Crossed Political Generations
The tributes have also come from figures currently occupying senior institutional positions.
National Assembly President Dr. Dansa Kourouma described Touré as one of the former servants of the Republic who had left his mark on several decades of Guinea’s public life. He extended condolences to Touré’s family, political companions, and others affected by his death.
Dr. Makalé Traoré, who worked alongside Touré for about a decade, recalled him as a major intellectual and political figure. She said their disagreements never prevented continued intellectual exchanges and mutual respect.
“Guinea has lost a great man who could have given even more to the country,” she said while paying her respects to the family on September 26.
Other political figures, including former prime minister François Louncény Fall, have similarly recalled Touré’s political career and their shared aspirations for Guinea.
A Career Spanning Guinea’s Political Transformations
Touré’s political career stretched across several major phases of Guinea’s modern political history. He became prime minister in the 1990s under Lansana Conté, later entered electoral politics and founded the UFR, and subsequently served in a senior advisory role under Alpha Condé.
His later years were marked by increasing political tensions and exile. He had lived outside Guinea since 2022 after his residence in La Minière was seized by the military junta, spending much of that period in Côte d’Ivoire before his final stay in Paris.
The breadth of the tributes following his death has underscored the unusual place Touré occupied in Guinea’s political history. Former allies, opponents, government figures, and members of the opposition have, despite their political differences, converged in recognizing his contribution to public life.
His death therefore closes the chapter on one of the country’s most enduring political figures, while the tributes emerging from across the political spectrum offer a rare moment of reflection on a career that intersected with several generations of Guinea’s political leadership.
Touré’s remains are expected in Abidjan on October 1, with funeral arrangements scheduled for the following day.
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