Sekou Toure Accuses "Imperialist European Powers" Of Subversion in Guinea | May 1971

Thursday May 13th, 1971.
In the first interview he had conducted with the Western press for many years, President Sekou Toure of Guinea accused what he termed the "Imperialist European Powers" of meddling in Guinea's internal affairs.
During a sit-down with the chief of the VISNEWS Paris office, M. Jean Magny. at the presidential palace, the president spoke of "the continuing plot against Guinea by the imperialist, neocolonialist" countries of Europe., singling out France, West Germany and Portugal, whom he accused of being behind the attempted invasion in November 1970.
Reuters Synopsis:
In Conakry last Thursday, President Sekou Toure of Guinea gave his first interview to the western press for many years. At the Presidential Palace, he answered questions on the attempted invasion of Guinea last November.
President Sekou Toure said that the invasion last November was no new plot, but a continuation of one and the same plot - namely the one which must always arise of the people of Guinea choose socialism, and certain powers seek to use illegal means to keep Guinea in a colonial situation. He then singled out West Germany, France and Portugal as being responsible for last November. They were helped, he said, by an imperialist fifth column in Guinea. And from the outside, people on the borders were still preparing an invasion. The plot against Guinea, the President said, was fed by powerful imperialists, but helped by the people of Guinea. As he pointed out on the First of May, the real enemies of Africa are the Africans unconsciously. For if all Africans had the same ideas, the same ideals, the same dignity, then imperialism could never achieve its aim, of dominating the African continent.
President Sekou Toure was then asked what he thought of the statement by the leader of the Ivory Coast that refusal of a dialogue would bring war in Africa. The President replaced that such a dialogue would be a betrayal of Africa. Sincere, genuine Africans, he said, could not accept a dialogue with people who exploit Africans to a horrible degree. He accused them of raising themselves above the native population by bayonets and trickery, until they took control.
Source: Reuters News.