2024-09-29 23:32:41
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As much as we celebrate the international days decreed by the United Nations (UN), with the same solidarity of destiny, the former colonies of French West Africa (AOF), should commemorate the historic date of September 28 in Africa, as the starting point of their independence.
Far from the pretensions of a lesson-giver, the evidence is that the popular will of the Guineans was the triggering factor of a relentless upheaval which contributed to the crumbling of the French colonial system, whose tentacles had taken root deeply of more than 60 years in our traditions and cultural values, symbols of our original civilizations.
For the record, at the opening of the extraordinary session of the Territorial Assembly on July 28, 1958, Sékou Touré said to his African companions the following: ”The overseas territories in general and the African peoples in particular, having condemned colonialism and for France and republican institutions; now intend to determine themselves freely, administer themselves directly and manage their own affairs. ”They no longer wish to sit in the French Parliament, having their own Parliament” did he continued.
It is with the same conviction that on August 25, 1959 in Conakry, that Sékou Touré in his capacity as President of the governing council of French Guinea addressed General DE Gaulle, then President of the government of the French Republic. He defined Guinea’s position in relation to the proposal for accession to the French community that General DE Gaulle held dear. ”We have, for our part, a first and essential need, that of our Dignity. However, there is no Dignity without Freedom……”Freedom is the privilege of every man, the natural right of every society or people, the basis on which African States will associate themselves with the French Republic and other States for the development of their values and their common wealth.
It could not be clearer that the famous phrase “We prefer poverty in Liberty to wealth in slavery” was said in the name of all African peoples placed in the position that the Guinean Sékou Touré defended at the era.
A cry of the heart whose reverberations were limited only to the borders of the territory of Guinea for two years, before its echo spread in 1960 to the other States, although aware of the correctness of the line policy displayed by the people of Guinea, on August 25, 58 by saying ”NO” to France.
The young Republic proclaimed on October 2, 1958, made no secret of its courage and continued to fascinate more than one witness to the contemporary history of Africa, then under the yoke of the French colonial system with the AOF label
A sovereign State which had its Motto, its national anthem, its currency and its notoriety within the United Nations, where from now on the Guinean man had his say on major global political and economic issues.
On this level, the Republic of Guinea has marked history by its positions and its contribution to the search for solutions to conflict resolution, to the orientation of humanity towards the best approaches to development and well-being. of Peoples.
Faithful to its vocation of freedom, Guinea has, without being discouraged, also actively participated in the armed liberation struggles of the Portuguese-speaking peoples and thus deserves recognition and respect.
In celebrating the 60th anniversary of its independence, after 60 years of colonization in the past, it is wise for Guinea to question history and the present regarding the reluctance of other peoples to destiny:
What happened in 1958 so that the ”NO to the French Community” was only said in Guinea?
And why until now, the date of September 28, 58 is not seen by the former colonies of AOF as a historical and symbolic date which deserves to be celebrated by this geopolitical group, yet proud today to be all independent?
Alpha Cabinet Doumbouyajournalist former CEO of RTG