born Jan. 9, 1922, Faranah, French Guinea
died March 26, 1984, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
First president of Guinea (195884) and a leading African politician.
Touré, who claimed to be descended from Samory , helped lead Guinea's campaign for independence in 1958. He actively supported Kwame Nkrumah 's program for African unity and gave Nkrumah asylum when he was deposed in 1966. A member of the Organization of African Unity (now African Union), he was viewed internationally as a moderate Islamic leader. After an unsuccessful invasion from neighbouring Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau) in 1971, he imposed harsh domestic measures and ruled with an iron hand.