The Market Women's Revolt of 1977 was a series of large demonstrations and riots across

Guinea Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Côte d'Ivoire to the southeast, and Sier ...

brought about by the ban of private trade for goods sold in the country's public markets. The riots began on 27 August 1977 when women vendors in Conakry's Madina Market began rioting against the "economic police," who were responsible for enforcing the government's price controls and were often corrupt. The riots spread throughout the country and led to several deaths. The revolt is seen as a major turning point in the history of Guinea and the end of President

Ahmed Sékou Touré Ahmed Sékou Touré (var. Sheku Turay or Ture; N'Ko: ; 9 January 1922 – 26 March 1984) was a Guinean political leader and African statesman who was the first president of Guinea from 1958 until his death in 1984. Touré was among the primary ...

's most radical economic reforms.EDiplomat, Guinea, http://www.ediplomat.com/np/post_reports/pr_gn.htm 27 August became a public holiday following the end of President

's regime although it was suspended by

Lansana Conté Lansana Conté (; 30 November 1934 – 22 December 2008

's government in 2006, shortly before an uprising sparked by the price of rice took place.

References

{{reflist Protests in Guinea August 1977 in Africa Conflicts in 1977 1970s in Guinea