A group of women fish smokers in Guinea's Bonfi area staged a protest on November 4, 2026, to defend their workplace against a land dispute. The women claim an individual, who identifies himself as a member of the family of former Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright, is trying to force them to leave the site. The area has been their primary workplace for decades, and they argue it was allocated to them by former President Ahmed Sékou Touré.
The women, led by Damayé Camara, president of the Bonfi women fish smokers' association, say the dispute began under the regime of former President Alpha Condé. They claim the individual, referred to as Koma Wright, has been pressuring them to vacate the premises, asserting his family's rights to the land. The women argue that they have been operating at the site since 1980 and that it is the only fish-smoking center between Conakry and Coyah.
The protesters emphasize that their livelihoods and those of many families depend on the fish-smoking activities at the site. They view any attempt to take over the land as a direct threat to their means of subsistence. The women are determined to defend their workplace and have appealed to President Mamadi Doumbouya to intervene and resolve the dispute.
The protest was intended to draw attention to the issue and warn the individual involved, Koma Wright, of the consequences of continued pressure. Damayé Camara stated that the women will not leave the site voluntarily and are prepared to defend it, even if it means facing confrontation.
The women are seeking the intervention of the authorities to resolve the land dispute. They have called on President Mamadi Doumbouya to guarantee the preservation of the center and ensure the continuity of their activities without intimidation or threat of expulsion.
The president of the women fish smokers' association has reiterated the urgency of resolving the dispute, stating that the women will not back down in the face of threats. The situation remains unresolved, with no reported reaction from Koma Wright or the authorities.
The dispute highlights the challenges faced by women in Guinea who rely on informal economic activities for their livelihoods. The outcome of the situation will likely have implications for the women and their families, as well as for the broader community in Bonfi.
Key points
- The women fish smokers of Bonfi are protesting a land dispute with an individual linked to former Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright.
- The women claim the site was allocated to them by former President Ahmed Sékou Touré and argue that their livelihoods depend on the fish-smoking activities.
- The women have appealed to President Mamadi Doumbouya to intervene and resolve the dispute.
