French legislative by-election in Guinea, 1954
Encyclopedia
A by-election
for one of the French National Assembly
seats from Guinea
was held on June 27, 1954. The socialist Yaciné Diallo
, who had won one of the three Guinean seats in the 1951 French National Assembly election
, died in April 1954, after which the by-election was called. The election was won by Diawadou Barry
, but it also marked of the ascent of Sékou Touré's Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) in Guinean politics.
(DSG). Barry Diawadou was supported by a coordination committee of local formations during the run-up to the election. The coordination committee based on an agreement between the Fula
chiefs of Futa Jalon and regional formations in lower Guinea. Under the arrangement, the Fula chiefs would be able to select the candidate for the French National Assembly seat, whilst the groups from lower Guinea would select candidates for second-college senator (Fodé Mamadou Touré) and French Union
assemblyman (Karim Bangoura). The Fula chiefs' candidate became Barry Diawadou, after Diawadou had received the backing of the Futa Jalon spiritual leader almami
Ibrahima Sory Dara. Diawadou himself was the son of the almami of Dabola
.
Sékou Touré (later the president of Guinea 1958-1984) was the candidate of the PDG, the Guinean branch of the African Democratic Rally
(RDA). Touré was a prominent trade union
leader. Touré and his party were popularily referred to as syli (susu
for 'elephant'), a name given to symbolize strength.
Following the election, the committee that had supported Barry Diawadou's candidacy formed the African Bloc of Guinea (BAG) in late 1954.
On January 21, 1955 a vote of validation was held in the French National Assembly regarding the 1954 election in Guinea. SFIO no longer voiced any opposition. Many of the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
(the parliamentary ally of RDA) assembly members were absent at the time of the vote. The validation was passed with a wide majority; only the assembly members of the French Communist Party
and RDA voted against the validation.
After the validation had passed, the situation became tense in lower Guinea. When Barry Diawadou's father visited Conakry
on January 30, 1955, widespread riots broke out. Violent incidents also occurred in Dubréka
and Boffa
. These confrontations occurred in spite of appeals of the PDG to its followers to remain calm.
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for one of the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
seats from Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
was held on June 27, 1954. The socialist Yaciné Diallo
Yacine Diallo
Yacine Diallo was a politician from Guinea who served in the French National Assembly from 1946-1954 .- references :...
, who had won one of the three Guinean seats in the 1951 French National Assembly election
French legislative election, 1951
Legislative elections were held in France on 17 June 1951 to elect the second National Assembly of the Fourth Republic.After the Second World War, the three parties which took a major part in the French Resistance to the German occupation dominated the political scene and government: the French...
, died in April 1954, after which the by-election was called. The election was won by Diawadou Barry
Diawadou Barry
Diawadou Barry was a politician from Guinea who served in the French National Assembly from 1954-1958 .- references :**...
, but it also marked of the ascent of Sékou Touré's Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) in Guinean politics.
Candidates
There were three main candidates taking part in the election; Barry Diawadou, Sékou Touré and Ibrahima Barry ('Barry III') of the newly-founded Socialist Democracy of GuineaSocialist Democracy of Guinea
The Socialist Democracy of Guinea was a political party in Guinea. DSG was founded in the run-up to the 1954 legislative election by Abdoulaye Diallo, Chaikou Baldé and Ibrahima Barry . DSG was a continuation of the party led by Yaciné Diallo...
(DSG). Barry Diawadou was supported by a coordination committee of local formations during the run-up to the election. The coordination committee based on an agreement between the Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
chiefs of Futa Jalon and regional formations in lower Guinea. Under the arrangement, the Fula chiefs would be able to select the candidate for the French National Assembly seat, whilst the groups from lower Guinea would select candidates for second-college senator (Fodé Mamadou Touré) and French Union
French Union
The French Union was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" and to abolish its "indigenous" status.-History:...
assemblyman (Karim Bangoura). The Fula chiefs' candidate became Barry Diawadou, after Diawadou had received the backing of the Futa Jalon spiritual leader almami
Almami
Almami is a title of West African Muslim rulers, used especially in the conquest states of the 19th century. It is a contraction of Amir al-Mu'minin , usually translated "Commander of the Faithful" or "Prince of the Faithful"...
Ibrahima Sory Dara. Diawadou himself was the son of the almami of Dabola
Dabola
Dabola is a city in central Guinea.Population 17,855.It grew around the railway line from Conakry to Kankan and is known for the Tinkisso Falls and for its important dam.- Transport :...
.
Sékou Touré (later the president of Guinea 1958-1984) was the candidate of the PDG, the Guinean branch of the African Democratic Rally
African Democratic Rally
The African Democratic Rally was a political party in French West Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a...
(RDA). Touré was a prominent trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader. Touré and his party were popularily referred to as syli (susu
Susu language
Sosoxui is the language of the Soso people of Guinea, West Africa. It is in the Mande language family.It is one of the national languages of Guinea and spoken mainly in the coastal region of the country. The language was also used by people in present-day Guinea as a trade language.e.g...
for 'elephant'), a name given to symbolize strength.
Results
As per the official figures, the result were as follows;| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Barry Diawadou | 145,497 | 57.1% |
| Sékou Touré | 85,808 | 33.7% |
| Barry III Barry III Ibrahima Barry, popularily known as Barry III, was a Guinean politician. He was the leader of the political party Socialist Democracy of Guinea .... |
16,098 | 6.3% |
| Independents Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
7,319 | 2.9% |
Irregularities
The election was marred with irregularities. The principle of secrecy of vote was not respected. In many cases local chiefs were in charge of distributing voting cards, chiefs who simultaneously were campaigning for Barry Diawadou (the electoral law demanded that local committees be formed with representatives of all parties for the sake of distributing voting cards). On many occasions, the ballot for Barry Diawadou was attached to the voting cards. At the voting stations, PDG representatives were chased away or physically abused in many locations. With the PDG representatives gone, the fraud could go on without limitations. The irregularities were most widespread in Futa Jalon, the stronghold of Barry Diawadou.Aftermath
Immediately after the official results had been declared, the PDG cried foul and accused the French administration of having committed fraud to ensure the victory of Barry Diawadou. In the months following the vote, the PDG pinned its hopes to the possibility that the French National Assembly might refuse to validate the results. The party campaigned vigorously to show its force, and mass demonstrations were held throughout Guinea to condemn the electoral fraud. PDG followers composed various songs, sung at the public meetings. The stated that the Syli had been robbed of his legitimate victory, and that Barry Diawadou was a weak coward. Moreover, at the SFIO congress in July 1954 the actions of the French governor in Guinea were condemned. The SFIO congress charged that the governor had openly supported Diawadou's candidacy, in breach of the expected neutrality of the administration.Following the election, the committee that had supported Barry Diawadou's candidacy formed the African Bloc of Guinea (BAG) in late 1954.
On January 21, 1955 a vote of validation was held in the French National Assembly regarding the 1954 election in Guinea. SFIO no longer voiced any opposition. Many of the Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
The Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance was a French political party found at the Liberation and in activity during the Fourth Republic...
(the parliamentary ally of RDA) assembly members were absent at the time of the vote. The validation was passed with a wide majority; only the assembly members of the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
and RDA voted against the validation.
After the validation had passed, the situation became tense in lower Guinea. When Barry Diawadou's father visited Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
on January 30, 1955, widespread riots broke out. Violent incidents also occurred in Dubréka
Dubréka
Dubréka is a town in Guinea, lying immediately north of Conakry.Population 8,300 .- Overview :As the birthplace of president Lansana Conté, it has a good infrastructure and is also known for its mangrove swamps.- References :...
and Boffa
Boffa
Boffa is a town and sub-prefecture located on Guinea's coast. It is the capital of Boffa Prefecture.Population 19,005. -References:...
. These confrontations occurred in spite of appeals of the PDG to its followers to remain calm.