Barry III

Ibrahima Barry, popularly known as Barry III (1923 – January 25, 1971), was a Guinean politician. He was the leader of the political party Socialist Democracy of Guinea (DSG).

Background Barry was born in Bantiŋel, Pita, into an aristocratic family of the Seeriyaabhe clan. Barry counted on strong support from the people and administration in the Fouta Jallon region in northern Guinea. In particular, he represented the younger educated generation of the elite sectors of Fula society.

Political career Barry was the DSG candidate in the 1954 legislative by-election. Barry had taken over the position as the leader of the socialist movement after Yaciné Diallo (whose death had provoked the holding of the by-election in 1954), but Barry III's hostile discourse against the Fula traditional chiefs (who had supported Diallo) aliented large sections of former supporters of Diallo.

Ahead of the 1956 election, the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) offered Barry to be one of their three candidates for the legislative election (along with Sékou Touré). Barry III, however, rejected the offer.

In the same year, Barry III stood as candidate for mayor of Conakry (in which he was defeated by Sékou Touré).

In 1957, Barry became the general secretary of the African Socialist Movement (MSA).

In the first government of independent Guinea, Barry was included as a minister.

After the merger of DSG into the African Regroupment Party (PRA), Barry became the general secretary of the Guinean branch of PRA. In November 1958 the Guinean PRA was dissolved, and Barry III instructed his followers to join the PDG.

Arrest and execution Barry was arrested in December 1970. He was held prisoner at Camp Alpha Yahya. On January 25, 1971 in the purge that followed Operation Green Sea, he was hanged in public at Tombo Bridge in Conakry.

Nickname Barry III was sometimes nicknamed Syliyoré (Susu for "Little Elephant"), a reference to the similarities between his political programme and that of Sékou Touré (who was commonly nicknamed Syli, "Elephant").