Amara Somparé is a high-ranking Guinean official and politician who has marked the media, mining and government sectors of his country. Son of Aboubacar Somparé, former President of the National Assembly under Lansana Conté, he held the strategic position of Minister of Information and Communication in the Kassory I and II Governments from 2018 to 2021. During his tenure, he defended the freedom of the press and led the project of the migration of Radio Television Guinea to digital media.
With more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry, especially with major players such as Rio Tinto, he was recently appointed in October 2023 as Managing Director of Bel Air Mining, with the mission of raising it to new heights of success through an innovative, sustainable strategy that respects commitments to stakeholders.
Introduction
Amara Somparé is a leading Guinean political and professional figure. Son of Aboubacar Somparé, former president of the National Assembly under President Lansana Conté, Amara Sompare has marked the political, media and mining spheres of his country. His rich and varied journey demonstrates his commitment to the development of Guinea.
Education
After obtaining her bachelor's degree at the institute Sainte Marie de Conakry in 1995, Amara Somparé continued her studies in France. Between 2002 and 2004, he obtained a postgraduate degree in Economic and Social Policy and a master's degree in economic analysis and policy from the Pierre-Mendès-France University in Grenoble.
Professionnal career
Amara Somparé's professional career is marked by a rich experience in the mining sector in Guinea. From July 2005 to June 2011, he held the position of Chief Logistics and Subcontracting Officer at Guinea Alumina Corporation. Subsequently, he became a licensing and approval specialist at Rio Tinto-Simfer and Project Simandou, Department of Government Relations and Economic Development, from July 2011 to February 2012.
From February 2012 to August 2014, Amara Somparé was Country Director of Africa Mining Services Guinea. During this period, he also served as a consultant for Tony Blair's Africa Governance Initiative (AGI), who was assigned to the Director-General for Management and Control of Large Projects (ACGP) as an infrastructure and urban work advisor.
In September 2014, he was appointed Director of Procurement Control and Public Service Delegations.
Political career
On 26 May 2018, Amara Somparé began her political career as Minister of Information and Communications in the Kassory I and II government of Prime Minister Ibrahim Kassory Fofana. He held this post until the fall of the government on September 5, 2021.
Minister
As Minister of Information and Communications, Amara Somparé has been an illustrator of her position in favour of freedom of the press. In an interview with Guineenews, he said he was "strongly opposed to the imprisonment of a journalist", while recalling the limits of his power to intervene in judicial matters.
One of Amara Somparé's major challenges as minister was the migration from Radio Television Guinea (RTG) to digital. In an interview with Guineenews in May 2021, he discussed efforts to obtain the necessary funding from foreign partners, including Chinese and the ECOWAS Investment Bank. (BIDC).
This digital transition was aimed at improving the quality of the transmission signal, increasing the supply of content with the creation of new regional and thematic channels, and generating additional resources for the operator responsible for managing the platform.
Despite her principled position against the imprisonment of journalists, Amara Somparé had to cope with the legal realities of her country. In Guineenews' "Without Concession", he acknowledged the limits of his power to intervene in judicial cases, stressing that the executive cannot interfere in judges' decisions.
Managing Director of Bel Air Mining
After joining the government, Amara Somparé returned to the mining sector and was appointed Executive Director of Bel Air Mining on 19 October 2023. This appointment was announced in an official company statement, highlighting Amara Somparé's more than 15 years of experience in the mining industry and in the high administrative spheres of Guinea.
In his new role, Amara Somparé is responsible for driving Bel Air Mining to new heights of success, implementing innovative strategies, strengthening sustainable development and good governance practices, and ensuring that society's commitments to the State, workers and communities are respected.
Private life
Beyond his professional and political career, little information is available about Amara Somparé's private life. It is known, however, that heined a special relationship with his father, Aboubacar Somparé, the last president of the National Assembly under President Lansana Conté.
Conclusion
Amara Somparé's journey demonstrates his commitment to the development of Guinea, both in the political spheres and in the mining sector. His position in favour of freedom of the press and the digital transition of Guinea's media marked his transition to the Ministry of Information and Communications. Today, as head of Bel Air Mining, he has the opportunity to continue his work for sustainable development and good governance in his country's mining industry.
