Guinea’s former prime minister and veteran opposition leader, Sidya Touré, has died in Paris at the age of 81, according to sources close to his family.
Touré, who led the Union of Republican Forces (UFR), one of Guinea’s major opposition parties, died on Friday after spending about two weeks at the American Hospital of Paris.
Family sources said he had fallen ill in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where he had lived in exile since leaving Guinea following the September 2021 military coup that brought Mamady Doumbouya to power.
The UFR was among 40 political parties dissolved by the authorities in March as part of measures that drew criticism over restrictions on political activity and civil liberties.
Touré had been a prominent figure in Guinean politics for several decades, serving as prime minister under former President Lansana Conté from July 1996 to March 1999.
During his tenure, he pursued administrative and economic reforms and worked to strengthen Guinea’s relations with international financial institutions.
After leaving government, Touré became leader of the UFR in 2000 and emerged as a leading opposition figure under Conté and subsequent administrations.
He contested Guinea’s presidential elections in 2010 and 2015 as the UFR candidate but did not win either election.
Touré’s death was mourned by fellow opposition figures and former government officials.
Cellou Dalein Diallo, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), who also lives in exile, described Touré as “a friend and companion in the struggle.”
Diallo said Touré shared the vision of transforming Guinea, with its abundant resources, into a prosperous country governed by democracy and the rule of law.
Former President Alpha Condé, under whom Touré served despite political disagreements, also expressed regret over his death, saying it was “deeply regrettable that a man who gave so much to his country should have endured the ordeal of exile at the end of his life.”
Current Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah described Touré as a “pragmatic reformer” and “a prominent figure in Guinea’s political life for three decades” in a tribute posted on X.
Touré was born in 1945 in Ivory Coast and spent part of his professional career there, particularly in the country’s economic and financial administration.
His death comes amid continued political restrictions in Guinea following the 2021 military takeover and subsequent political changes.
