Guinean Market Women's Revolt

The Market Women's Revolt of 1977 was a series of large demonstrations and riots across Guinea brought about by the imposition of government-set prices for goods sold in the country's public markets.[4]

Market Women's Revolt or Women's Revolt
Date27 August 1977
Location
Began at Madina Market, Conarky - Spread throughout the country
Caused by
  • Government set prices so low that women vendors couldn't make a living[1]
Goals
  • Government economic reform
Methods
Resulted in
  • Relaxation of policies on private trade and the improvement of Guinea's relations with France.[2]
Parties to the civil conflict
  • Women vendors
Lead figures
* President Ahmed Sékou Touré
Casualties
Death(s)Some local governors were killed[3]

The riots began on 27 August 1977 when women vendors in Conakry's Medina Market began rioting against the "economic police," who were responsible for enforcing the government's price controls and were often corrupt. The riots spread throughout the country and led to several deaths.

The revolt is seen as a major turning point in the history of Guinea and the end of President Ahmed Sékou Touré's most radical economic reforms.[5][4] 27 August became a public holiday following the end of President Ahmed Sékou Touré's regime although it was suspended by Lansana Conté's government in 2006, shortly before an uprising sparked by the price of rice took place.

References
  1. A Socialist Peace?: Explaining the Absence of War in an African Country, Mike McGovern, pg. 179, University of Chicago Press, 2017, ISBN 9780226453743
  2. International Women's Rights Action Watch, GUINEA, 6 March 2001 (CEDAW/C/GIN/1-3) , http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/iwraw/guinea.html
  3. Lonely Planet, Guinea, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/guinea/history
  4. Europa Publications Limited (31 December 2002). Africa South of the Sahara 2003. Psychology Press. p. 473. ISBN 978-1-85743-131-5. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  5. EDiplomat, Guinea, http://www.ediplomat.com/np/post_reports/pr_gn.htm
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