A significant government delegation visited Dionfo to present the draft of Guinea’s new constitution to Elhadj Alpha Abdoul Gadiri Dionfo, the Caliph of Foutah, seeking his blessings and support to popularize the document among the population.
The visit follows the nationwide campaign to introduce and explain the proposed constitution to citizens.
The delegation comprised Moussa Moise Sylla, Minister of Culture; Yaya Kairaba Kaba, Minister of Justice; Mory Condé, Minister of Housing; and Jean-Paul Cedy, Minister of Pre-university Education. Prior to meeting the Caliph, they also engaged with the wise men of Labé, underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive dialogue.
“We are here in Dionfo to convey, first and foremost, the warm greetings of the President of the Republic to the Caliphs of Foutah and all the wise men. Beyond that, we have come to ask for the blessings of the Holy Man of Dionfo, who is the Caliph of Foutah, for support in popularizing the draft of the new constitution,” said Minister of Justice Yaya Kairaba Kaba at the conclusion of the meeting.
Highlighting the pivotal role of moral authorities in public communication, Minister Kaba added, “Notables are effective vectors of communication, so we must take advantage of their rich experience, their blessings, always materialized to solicit them so that government enterprises, the vision of the President of the Republic, may God realize them and translate them into concrete action for the benefit of the entire Guinean population. This is the purpose of our presence here and we were very well received, the message was very well received.
We obtained the blessings thanks to the good Lord and we thank the holy man.”
Minister of Education Jean-Paul Cedy stressed the value of engaging with community elders, stating, “As you know, we don’t get the status of sages for free; it’s the fruit of a lifetime spent in search of wisdom. We are obliged to come to the sages to seek what we lack in this city, then seek their support because we are convinced that if they themselves agree with the ideas we hold, it means they are right. So it’s an effective approach to recognized people.
That’s why we are with the caliph; we will try to follow the serenity and simplicity that characterize this holy man.”
In his remarks, conveyed by Cellou Baldé, former MP for Labé, the Caliph of Foutah emphasized the close relationship between political power and religion—particularly Islam—in societal governance.
He underscored the urgent need for peace and stability across Guinea while appealing for improved road infrastructure. His full message is expected to be detailed in forthcoming reports.
The delegation’s visit to Dionfo marks a strategic effort by Guinea’s government to align traditional authority figures with its constitutional vision, hoping to foster national unity and broad-based support for upcoming reforms.
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