of Guinea (1958–84). In 1946, together with other African leaders, including Houphouët‐Boigny, he was a founder of the Rassemblement Démocratique Africain. He became Secretary‐General of the CGT (Confédération générale du travail) for Africa in 1948. In 1955 he was elected Mayor of Conakry and took his seat in the French National Assembly in 1956. In 1957 he became Vice‐President in the Guinea cabinet. He was elected President when Guinea became independent in 1958 and broke all links with the French Community. A convinced Marxist, he received aid for Guinea from the Soviet bloc. Following his death in 1984 the armed forces staged a coup.