Members of Tournons La Page Guinea (TLP-Guinea) organized a roundtable discussion on Friday, July 18, to mark Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrated each year on July 18. The event, moderated by Djimi Lelano, featured the screening of a documentary tracing the life and struggles of Nelson Mandela, the global icon of peace, justice, and reconciliation.

The purpose of the gathering was to inspire young people and women to engage actively and peacefully in transforming their communities. Through the story of Madiba’s life, participants reflected on the core values he embodied: resilience, dialogue, and forgiveness.

This year, the commemoration held particular significance in Guinea, amid a tense context marked by the enforced disappearances of several civil society actors. Since July 9, 2024, Oumar Sylla, also known as Foniké Menguè, coordinator of the FNDC, and Mamadou Billo Bah, coordinator of TLP-Guinea, have been reported missing. “This day inevitably brings me back to the struggle of our brothers, who have disappeared against their will,” lamented Maké Fofana, TLP-Guinea’s communications officer. She also spoke about the plight of oppressed journalists, forced exiles, and all those living under the constant threat of arrest.

For Djimi Lelano, the day should serve as a catalyst for civic action: “Through this event, we aim to awaken consciences and plant the idea that each person, in their own way, can be a builder of peace.”

In keeping with the spirit of Mandela Day, the organizers invited participants to dedicate 67 symbolic minutes of their time to volunteer or community work — a direct tribute to Mandela’s 67 years of struggle for humanity. This gesture serves as a reminder that everyone, regardless of their situation, can help build a fairer, more compassionate, and humane society.