Mamadou Sylla, a Guinean arms dealer and politician, died on April 16, 2026, at the age of 66.
Born in Boké on January 25, 1960, he became wealthy after being among several people given large amounts of rice by the government to retail in 1986. He later moved to Conakry and became a senior judge.
In 1998, Sylla bought an arms importer and was awarded a contract to supply the Guinean Army. He also became a significant supporter of President Lansana Conté, extending overdraft facilities to the army and spending large sums supporting Conté’s 2001 referendum to remove term limits.
Mamadou Sylla, 66, Guinean arms dealer.