Mamadi Keïta

Mamadi Keïta (1933 – July 1985) was a leading Guinean politician and member of the Politburo of the First Republic of Guinea.

Early years

Mamadi Keïta was born in Kankan, French Guinea in 1933. He went to Paris, France for his higher education, where he studied philosophy. After becoming leader of the West African Student's Organization, he was expelled from France in 1961. He earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Geneva. Returning to Guinea, he became in turn professor, dean and president of the University of Conakry.

In 1972, he was leader of the left-wing faction in the Politburo, and was engaged in a struggle with Ismaël Touré to be recognized as the next in line to succeed the president. At the 9th party congress that year, the right-center took control. Sékou Touré remained president and Lansana Beavogui was given the newly created title of prime minister. Ismaël Touré gained the powerful position of Minister of the Economy and Finance, while Mamadi Keïta was relegated to Minister of Culture and Education. His brother Seydou Keïta became ambassador to Western Europe. In October 1980, as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research he attended an executive board meeting of UNESCO, held in Belgrade, where he was appointed to the Special Committee for the triennium and the Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations. In November 1982, he attended the first session of the executive council of ISESCO (Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Rabat, Morocco.

After the political coup that followed the death of Sekou Toure, he was arrested on 3 April 1984.