Anniversary of the hangings on the night of 25 January
Intangible
Site
Theme: Political persecution
Address
8 November Bridge
Country
Guinea
City
Conakry
Continent
Africa
Theme: Political persecution
Purpose of Memory
On the day of the anniversary, homage is paid to the people that were hanged at the Conakry bridge and in other places in Guinea on 25 January 1971. Moreover, the people that had been imprisoned in Camp Boiro are honored.
Known Designation
Anniversary of the hangings on the night of 25 January
Date of creation / identification / declaration
1984
Public Access
Free

Location description
Every 25 January in the city of Conakry, Guinea, the “day of the hangings” is commemorated through ceremonies that basically consist of two marches: one towards the place where the 8 November Bridge was located and another towards the entrance of Camp Boiro. People attending the ceremonies give speeches and carry pictures of the victims.
Towards 1957, France had already granted a high degree of self-government to its colonies in West Africa, even though it still kept them under the French Union. Guinea was the only French colony that, through a referendum in 1958 led by all political leaders, including Ahmed Sékou Touré, did not join the proposed French Union and declared its full independence. Touré had scarce opposition at first, but it increased rapidly due to the repressive methods used against opponents of the regime. Detention camps were created, out-of-court executions were carried out, the freedom of the press was diminished and political opposition was forbidden.
It is estimated that, during the regime of Ahmed Sékou Touré, more than 50,000 people were murdered in concentration camps, especially in Camp Boiro.
On 25 January 1971, 88 people were hanged in different parts of the country by the authorities. The four individuals that were hanged at the Conakry bridge were former high Government officials that had been previously removed from Camp Boiro. Said concentration camp housed a great amount of political prisoners during the regime of Sékou Touré. After his death, on 26 March 1984, the space used for political prisoners in Camp Boiro was finally closed.
In 2011, the Provisional National Commission on Reconciliation (CPRN) was created with the support of different international organizations.
After the death of Sékou Touré, the military seized power to establish what they called Guinea Second Republic. The prisoners of Camp Boiro were released and the space was opened to the public to report the crimes of the previous regime. The Association of Victims of Camp Boiro (AVCB) was created by survivors and families of victims to locate the graves, honor the victims and recover property taken by the State, among other things.
The anniversary of the hangings of 25 January 1971 in Conakry is commemorated every year, a ceremony that later on became the commemoration of the crimes of Sékou Touré’s regime. Commemorations usually start with a public act, with the presence of the press, in which a document is read to recall what happened. Then, two marches are organized: one towards the place where the 8 November Bridge was located and another one towards the entrance of Camp Boiro. People carry pictures of the victims, pray and leave flowers. All attempts to place a plate or create a memorial in the premises have failed to date.
In 2012, despite protests, the 8 November Bridge was replaced with road interchanges.







Organization in Charge - Main Referent
Association of Victims of the Boiro Field (AVCB)