Teen in Guinea Dies after Sickle Cell Complications Following Exam Cheating Arrest
Mamadou Djouma Bah, 17, was arrested for allegedly using his phone during Guinea’s national school‑leaving exam on 15 July. He was convicted of cheating and sentenced to six months in prison, with five of those months suspended.
Two days into his sentence he was transferred to a regional hospital because his condition, a lifelong sickle cell disease, deteriorated while he was in custody. He died “under the care of his treating physician”, according to a prosecutor, after a brief stay in the hospital.
Bah’s father, Mamadou Saliou Bah, says his son was denied adequate medical care while in detention. In a BBC interview he recalled his son’s last words: “Dad, I’m dying,” as the teenager struggled to breathe.
Sickle cell disease, common among West Africans, can cause severe pain, organ damage, and life‑threatening complications if not managed properly. The father is demanding an independent investigation into the circumstances of his son’s death.
Education Minister Alpha Bacar Barry expressed deep sadness over the incident and offered condolences to the family. Human rights organisations and student activists have called for a review of how young people accused of exam fraud are treated in prisons.
The detention of Bah’s classmates sparked protests, with students demanding that authorities release all detained pupils to prevent further loss of life. “A student should not be sent to prison. These young people are the future of our country,” Bah said.
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