When Guinea Broke Free From France

This month marks 65 years since Guinea-Conakry broke free from French colonial rule. It was a mammoth moment that put leader Ahmed Sékou Touré at loggerheads with France. In the 1950s, France was desperate to hold on to its former colonies in West and Central Africa. But, unlike other leaders, Touré rejected the offer of pseudo-sovereignty which still gave Paris great power. As a result France launched Operation Persil in a bid to get rid of him. Nothing was off the table, from sabotaging sewer networks to trashing Guinea’s currency. But, despite France’s best efforts, Touré remained in power until his death in 1984. Here’s a reminder of how this small, resilient West African nation stood up to French oppression.