Jean Marc Telliano is a Guinean politician born in 1960 in Forest Guinea. Founder and president of the Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea (RDIG), he served as Minister of Agriculture under Alpha Condé's presidency from December 2010 to January 2014. His political career is characterized by a certain versatility, shifting from supporting Alpha Condé's regime to fierce opposition, then attempting to return to the presidential circle, which earned him the label of "political transhumant."
In 2022, he was targeted by the CRIEF (Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offenses) for suspicions of embezzlement of public funds, forgery and use of forgeries, illicit enrichment, and money laundering. His electoral base is primarily located in the regions of Guéckédou, Kissidougou, and Maneah, and he has positioned himself in a critical but participatory manner toward the military regime established after the 2021 coup d'état.
Introduction
Jean Marc Telliano is a significant political figure in contemporary Guinea, whose career illustrates the complexities of political life in this West African country.
Born in 1960 in Forest Guinea, Jean Marc Telliano spent a significant part of his life in Europe before returning to become involved in the politics of his native country. His political engagement truly began to manifest during the transition that followed Captain Moussa Dadis Camara's rule, of whom he claims to be a supporter.
Political Rise
Jean Marc Telliano's political career reached its peak when he became Minister of Agriculture under Alpha Condé's presidency, a position he held from December 24, 2010, to January 15, 2014. This appointment came after his support for Alpha Condé during the 2010 presidential election, to the detriment of Cellou Dalein Diallo.
Concurrently, he founded the Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea (RDIG), a political party that emerged from a small NGO he had previously established. This party became his main platform for expressing his political ambitions.
Break with the Government and Controversies
His removal from the government in January 2014 marked a turning point in his career. Jean Marc Telliano did not hesitate to denounce what he considered discriminatory practices of Alpha Condé's regime. He notably claimed that he was dismissed for appointing people of Fula ethnicity to positions of responsibility in his ministry, thus revealing the ethnic tensions that run through Guinean politics.
According to his statements in June 2014: "The first disagreement between him and me was when I appointed Fula people," referring to President Alpha Condé. He also criticized the regime's selective policy that allegedly excluded certain regions, particularly Fouta, from agricultural development programs.
Fluctuating Political Positioning
Jean Marc Telliano's career is characterized by a certain political versatility. Initially an ally of Alpha Condé, he joined the opposition after his removal from the government. In January 2015, during a rally in Bonfi, he did not hesitate to declare that "Alpha Condé came with a bag and a procession of misfortunes" and that he is an "unfortunate president."
However, over the years, his positioning evolved. In 2018, while allied with Cellou Dalein Diallo, he stated that he did not exclude forming alliances with the RPG Arc-en-ciel, the ruling party. In May 2020, sources indicated that he had even abandoned his position as a deputy in the hope of rejoining the government, earning him the label of a "political transhumant."
Legal Troubles
Jean Marc Telliano's career is also tainted by several controversies and legal troubles. In July 2022, he was targeted by proceedings from the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offenses (CRIEF) for suspicions of embezzlement of public funds, forgery and use of forgeries, illicit enrichment, and money laundering involving more than 257 billion Guinean francs.
Position Regarding the CNRD
After the 2021 coup d'état and the establishment of the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), Jean Marc Telliano adopted a nuanced position. He agreed to participate in the political dialogue initiated by the new authorities while stating: "The military belongs in the barracks; power belongs to us."
Political Legacy
Jean Marc Telliano remains a controversial figure in Guinean politics, symbolizing the contradictions and challenges of democracy under construction. His career illustrates the difficulties of positioning oneself in a political landscape marked by ethnic tensions and power struggles.
His electoral base is mainly located in the regions of Guéckédou, Kissidougou, and Maneah, where his party, the RDIG, maintains a certain influence despite the fluctuations of his national political trajectory.
