Beyond the legal aspect, the trial on the tragedy of September 28, 2009 is showing us the other facet of Guinea. Or more explicitly that of the Guineans. This, thanks to the now essential barometer of society that are social networks.
The passage of a witness – who is also a victim – on March 20, 2023 before the criminal court of Dixinn relocated to Kaloum is proof of this. Mr. Bah Oury, it is about him, delivered his part of the truth before this court. As a victim of these events, the politician was visibly comfortable recounting the hell he experienced on Black Monday.
In a river trial where, with a few exceptions, only a few lawyers speak French correctly, Bah Oury amazed the audience and especially the viewers. Internet users cover the man with praise. Almost all recognize that Mr. Bah is a great intellectual. One gets the impression that, for many Guineans, form takes precedence over substance.
Before Bah Oury, others had also aroused the interest, even the admiration of the Guinean public. In particular Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité alias Toumba. Which, combining revelations and reading of the Holy Quran, had won the favor of many of his compatriots. Just after Toumba, a lawyer unleashed passions. Not by his ability to defend his client, but to use and abuse the swear words of Molière’s language. Master Paul Yomba Kourouma ended up getting carried away by the many reactions to his performance. Because the following days, he put his foot in the dish, saying that he will “complete” Moussa Dadis Camara. These words had shocked some Guineans, who had not hesitated to rap him to order. He has since returned to earth. A Guinean living in France had even signed a forum in which he was not very tender with Me Paul Yomba Kourouma.
In any case, it is common knowledge that communicating well does not consist in showing the public that one has a rich vocabulary. Good communication is one that allows the target audience to swallow the message conveyed. This is the exercise that Bah Oury engaged in on Monday 20 March. In simple French accessible to his compatriots, he recounted his misadventure and that of his companions in misfortune, including his now main political opponent, in this case Cellou Dalein Diallo.
It is precisely the detailed and sometimes subtle description of the way in which he rescued his former mentor that aroused the interest of his former militants. Who believe that what binds the two men is stronger than what divides them. Calling in passing for a reconciliation between the two enemy brothers. In short, we can say that Bah Oury succeeded, by this blow of Com, where he failed on the political ground. Since Monday, people who were so far among his worst critics possibly have changed their minds. At least they confess it on the web.
Habib Yembering Diallo