A land dispute in the Boma neighborhood of Samoé, Guinea, quickly turned violent on November 3, 2026. Members of the security forces, accompanied by a court bailiff, entered several concessions early in the morning, removing doors and windows, and vandalizing property. The owners, who were not present at the time, returned to find their belongings destroyed and personal items stolen. The incident sparked outrage among the affected families.
The dispute centers on a plot of land purchased over 30 years ago by Maxime Apollinaire Nyankoyamou, who passed away in 2009. His son-in-law, Pastor David Lama, claims that the land has been in their family for decades. However, Charles, the opposing party, asserts that a court ruling in his favor was issued by the Kankan Court of Appeal. The exact terms of the judgment remain unclear. Lama disputes the legitimacy of the court order.
According to Lama, attempts at negotiation were made through a court bailiff, Célestin. The bailiff demanded that each of the 48 affected concessions pay 10 million Guinean francs in procedural fees. Additionally, the families were asked to purchase their plots from Charles for 120 million francs each. Lama argues that his family has legitimate ownership, having built their homes and lived on the land for over a decade.
The affected families had initially planned a peaceful march to assert their rights but were dissuaded by local leaders, who recommended mediation. However, the talks stalled, and the demolition occurred. Lama expressed frustration, stating that he had been summoned to vacate the premises on October 30. The events of November 3 left the families devastated, with Lama calling for the judiciary to intervene.
The incident led to a protest, with the affected families blocking the road with burning tires, resulting in clashes with security forces. The confrontation raised concerns about the rule of law and land rights in the region. Local authorities have been urged to investigate the matter and provide a resolution.
The Parquet, Guinea's prosecutorial body, has distanced itself from the operation, stating that it was not involved in the execution of the court order. However, Mohamed Fatoumata Soumah, a deputy prosecutor, confirmed that the Kankan Court of Appeal's ruling had been transmitted to their office over two months ago.
The situation in N'Zérékoré remains tense as the affected families seek redress. Key points include: - A longstanding land dispute between two parties resulted in the demolition of several concessions. - The legitimacy of the court order and ownership claims are disputed. - The incident has raised concerns about land rights and the rule of law in Guinea.
Key points
- Land dispute escalated into violence in N'Zérékoré.
- Affected families claim legitimate ownership of the land.
- The incident raised concerns about the rule of law in Guinea.
