Khalifa Gassama Diaby is a Guinean lawyer and human rights defender who has marked minds with his unwavering commitment to individual and collective freedoms. A law graduate, he first served in non-governmental organizations before being appointed Minister of Human Rights in 2012, then Minister of National Unity and Citizenship in 2015 under the chairmanship of Alpha Condé.
Known for his frankness and intransigence, he did not hesitate to denounce human rights abuses, even when they came from power. Having resigned in 2018, believing that his fight was no longer a priority, he continued to make his voice heard through shocking tribunes calling for a moral and civil upsurge in Guinea.
Introduction
Khalifa Gassama Diaby is an emblematic figure in the defence of human rights and the promotion of citizenship in Guinea. As a trained lawyer, he devoted much of his career to the struggle for individual and collective freedoms, not hesitating to challenge the authorities when they violated fundamental principles. His career within the government was marked by frank speech and unwavering commitment, even when his convictions opposed him to the current government.
Education
Born in Guinea, Khalifa Gassama Diaby attended a university degree in law, a discipline in which he graduated. This legal training has undoubtedly shaped his vision of society and his commitment to democratic values. Since the beginning of his professional career, he has advocated the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms.
Professional career
Prior to joining the government, Khalifa Gassama Diaby held various human rights functions. Among other things, he has worked closely with national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), thus gaining solid experience in the field. This immersion in the associative environment has enabled him to become aware of the challenges faced by Guinean society in respect of individual and collective freedoms.
Minister
In October 2012, Khalifa Gassama Diaby was appointed Minister of Human Rights and Public Freedoms by President Alpha Condé. This appointment provided him with a stand of choice for promoting his ideals and trying to turn his convictions into practical actions. However, his mandate has been filled with tensions with the executive, as he has not hesitated to denounce the perversions and violations of human rights, even when they originated from the government of which he was a member.
After Alpha Condé was re-elected in 2015, Khalifa Gassama Diaby saw his ministerial portfolio expanded, becoming Minister of National Unity and Citizenship. In this new role, it has focused on promoting social cohesion and raising citizens' awareness of their rights and duties. One of its flagship initiatives was the creation of the "National Citizenship and Peace Week" (SENACIP), adopted by the National Assembly in 2016.
Resignation
Despite his tireless efforts, Khalifa Gassama Diaby ended up throwing the sponge in November 2018, after repeatedly considering resigning during his tenure. In a letter to President Alpha Condé, he explained that his "fight" for ethics and honesty was no longer a "major concern" for either the government or national political actors.
This decision was welcomed by many Guinean personalities, who paid tribute to his courage and integrity. For Frédéric Foromou Loua, president of the NGO Mêmes Droits pour Tous (MDT), Khalifa Gassama Diaby embodied "the voice of human rights" within the government, while others hailed his patriotic spirit and willingness to defend his values, even against the will of the government.
Feathers
After leaving the government, Khalifa Gassama Diaby did not give up his fight. He continued to make his voice heard through various tribunes, denouncing the evils that undermine Guinea's society and calling for a moral and civil upsurge. In a paper entitled "Autopsy of a national shipwreck and democratic disenchantment", he made an uncompromising statement of the country's situation, referring to "a suffering people who mourn the fate they inflict on themselves".
Among his other notable writings are "The Suicide of a Nation" and "In the face of arbitrariness, HAC and CRIEF must be rejected". These striking texts testify to his unwavering commitment to the rule of law and democracy, even after leaving his ministerial duties.
Awards and recognitions
In 2018, the editorial board of the Guinéenews news site awarded Khalifa Gassama Diaby the title of "Personality of the Year". This choice rewarded his efforts to promote social cohesion, peace and national unity throughout his ministerial term. In particular, the site praised its frank speech, moral integrity and proximity to the people of Guinea.
This recognition underlines the recognition received by Khalifa Gassama Diaby from a part of the Guinean public who appreciates his courage and determination to defend his convictions, irrespective of the political consequences.
Conclusion
Khalifa Gassama Diaby's journey illustrates the difficult reconciliation between the exercise of power and respect for democratic principles. As Minister, he tried to promote human rights and citizenship, but encountered many obstacles, ranging from resigning when he felt that his struggle was no longer a priority for the government.
Despite this resignation, Khalifa Gassama Diaby remained faithful to his ideals, continuing to denounce deviations and violations of fundamental freedoms through his public writings and positions. His unwavering commitment and intransigence have made him a respected figure in Guinean civil society, even though his firm positions have sometimes alienated him from part of the political class.
In the end, this human rights lawyer's career shows the complexity of the task, but also the crucial importance ofining a vigilant counter-power, capable of opposing authoritarian drifts and recalling the founding principles of the rule of law. In Guinea and elsewhere, the voice of Khalifa Gassama Diaby will remain that of a fearless defender of human dignity and social justice.
