Guinea: the story of Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté, militant blogger
Audio 02:20
Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté, founder of the Association of Bloggers of Guinea, pioneer of the new Guinean civil society.
© RFI / Sidy Yansané
By: Sidy Yansané Follow
3 min
For months, civil society organizations, united within the FNDC, stood up to the regime of President Alpha Condé, overthrown a month ago by a military coup.
They largely contributed to its downfall by denouncing attacks on democracy and by mobilizing thousands of young people in the streets of Conakry.
One of the pioneers of this movement is a young blogger named Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté.
Advertising
From our special correspondent in Conakry,
It is as discreet as it is elegant.
Long-sleeved shirt, brayed pants, leather moccasins ... For as long as he can remember, Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté has always been passionate about citizen action.
Originally from Kouroussa in the east of the country, studying law, the 34-year-old Guinean was already writing in his school diary, while participating in high school demonstrations.
Before discovering an infinite space of expression, the blog: “
It allowed me to express myself.
I liked to write and then I was involved in political issues.
That's what brought me to the stadium,
”he says.
The day when Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté recounts the horror
The famous September 28 stadium, in reference to the vote for the independence of Guinea in 1958, became
the scene of a massacre in 2009
. Results: at least 157 dead and a hundred women raped, all protesting against the ruling CNDD junta. Fodé Sanikayi broadcasts the first images of the horror: “
There was this desire to tell what is happening, to take pictures of the event and then to tell it through my blog. We did not expect the drama. I also wrote blog articles that I published and these are the photos that have been on the front page of the international media, especially France 24
”.
In exile for his safety, he trained in digital technology in Bamako.
Upon his return to Conakry in 2011, he founded the Association of Bloggers of Guinea.
Election observation, evaluation of political promises, sexual health awareness, blog training camp…
Ablogui
is positioned on all fronts.
A renewal of Guinean civil society
These gains being threatened by the desire for an illegal third term of President Alpha Condé, the young Kouyaté joined the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution, after having handed over the reins of his association to Alfa Diallo, who considered that his elder contributed to the renewal of Guinean civil society.
The fact of having this type of young people who are not complex at all and who do not have this desire to be everywhere with everyone has inspired other youth organizations and more or less civil society.
We have a core, a set of youth organizations that are on new approaches, new approaches.
This contributes a little to the renewal of this civil society, but also to the emergence of new tools, even the fact that young people like us bring certain issues to the fore.
Like other activists, Fodé Sanikayi Kouyaté's commitment earned him another exile, until his triumphant return last month, when President Alpha Condé fell.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Guinea