The Fulani cultural organization Pottal-Fii-Bhantal Fouta-Djallon has protested to the United Nations [UN] that out of the fourteen metrics set by its Genocide Prevention Department to identify the risks of genocide in member states, twelve factors already apply to the situation of the Fulani [or Fula] ethnic group in Guinea Conakry.
Fulani are the single largest ethnic group in Guinea, making up more than one third of the population. However, the Mandingo ethnic group, the second largest, has dominated political power, security agencies and public service since the country’s independence from France in 1958.
Pottal-Fii-Bhantal Fouta-Djallon said in its petition that “In January 2020, our organization issued a document to bring to the attention of the UN the serious risks of a Fulani genocide in Guinea. The document showed unambiguously that of the fourteen risk factors identified by the UN, the situation of the Fulani in Guinea fulfilled twelve. The September 5, 2021 military coup did not change that reality.” As evidence, the group said “Military officers who perpetrated crimes against humanity in 2009 (including rapes of Fulani women in broad daylight) remain” in the new government. “The same goes for those who in 2019 demolished around 2,500 dwellings, 98% of which belonged to Fulani. Our organization sponsored a legal recourse for the victims in the ECOWAS court in 2019.”
The group also said Malinké ethnic group members make up over 80% of the Guinean army. “The Fulani are conspicuously excluded from all branches of the security forces, army, policeand gendarmerie. The recent coup has exposed the over-tribalisation of the security forces. After the coup, local prefects were sacked and replaced by security chiefs. As the policy has been to exclude Fulani, the result is that today there is not a single Fulani prefect. The same thing happened at the ministerial cabinet level; general secretaries have been called upon to replace sacked ministers. Out of 36 cabinet members, Fulani hold two ministerial departments today.”
It also said “The Special Forces group that ousted Alpha Condé from the military has yet to release a list of its members. The simple reason is that the Special Forces are 100% Malinké. Members of the Special Forces are suspected to have been involved in the violence directed at the Fulani in the last ten years.”
It said “the security forces as a whole are trained to attack the Fulani. Besides the numerous assassinations, they have carried out racketeering of Fulani traders as well as arbitrary arrests of young people to extort money from parents. Those without resources or connections remain in prison for years without appearing before a judge.”
It accused former President Alpha Condé of encouraging artificial dissensions by non-Fulani minorities in the predominantly Fulani Fouta-Djallon region. In the lower coastregion, it said, groups of thugs such as Labesanji set fire to Fulani plantations and the perpetrators remain free. It said the Guinean government also destroyed houses belonging to the Fulani “without notice or compensation.”
According to Pottal-Fii-Bhantal Fouta-Djallon, “there is aMandingo coordination in Guinea determined to maintain Mandingo rule and ensure that the future president is a Malinké. This, despite the fact that of the four major ethnic groups in Guinea, the Fulani represent around 45% of the country’s population. The simple fall of the Alpha Condé regime will not change this deeply rooted dynamic.”
It recalled the case of the highly respected African statesman Diallo Telli, who was elected OAU’s pioneer Secretary General in 1963. “When he returned to Guinea in 1972, he was minister for 4 years. He was arrested in 1976, tortured and left to die of starvation. To date his remains have not been found.” It said “following the arrest of Diallo Telli, then President Sékou Touré accused the Fulani of plotting against his regime. He called on the other ethnic groups to kill them saying that ‘they are easy to recognize.’ Fulani students were banned from receiving scholarships to study abroad. Those who were already studying abroad were forcibly returned to Guinea. Fulani officials in the administration were to make public acts of allegiance, denouncing the so-called Fulani racism. Saifoulaye Diallo, Sekou’s companion and second in command after independence,had to submit to a humiliating self-incrimination to spare his life.”
It also recalled the case of Barry Diawadou, eldest son of the Almamy from Fouta-Djallon. Sékou Toure accused him of conspiracy in 1969, had him arrested, tortured and shot while several of his brothers were also arrested and executed. The Almamy of Fouta-Djallon himself was also arrested and briefly imprisoned.
The group then called for drastic measures by ECOWAS, African Union [AU] and United Nations [UN] to end the assassination of Fulani, theft of their property and rape of their women in Guinea.
