A teenager from Guinea died following complications related to sickle cell disease while in custody after being arrested for cheating during a national examination. Mamadou Djouma Bah, 17, was detained after allegedly using his phone during the baccalaureate exam on 15 July and was convicted two days later. He received a six-month sentence with five months suspended, meaning he was to serve one month in a prison in Kindia, located approximately 137 kilometers northeast of the capital Conakry.
During his incarceration, Bah’s health condition deteriorated, prompting authorities to transfer him to a regional hospital for medical treatment. His father, Mamadou Saliou Bah, visited his son in the hospital and reported that the teenager expressed difficulty breathing and made a final statement before his death. According to officials, the teenager was discharged after approximately two days in hospital and subsequently died at home.
The prosecutor’s office stated that Bah died while under the care of his treating physician. However, his father has disputed the circumstances and called for an independent investigation, asserting that his son did not receive adequate medical care while detained. Sickle cell disease, a hereditary condition affecting oxygen transport in the bloodstream, requires careful management including preventive measures and monitoring to reduce the risk of serious complications.
Education Minister Alpha Bacar Barry expressed condolences to the family following the death. Human rights organizations have also called for an investigation into the circumstances of Bah’s death and the detention of other students arrested in connection with the examination. On Wednesday, fellow students organized demonstrations demanding the release of classmates still in custody, with Bah’s father calling for the liberation of all detained students and raising broader concerns about the prosecution of young people.
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