world 23 July 2026 Nile Post
Guinean Teen Dies in Custody After Exam Cheating Conviction Amidst Sickle Cell Complications
A 17-year-old Guinean student with sickle cell disease has died days after being jailed for exam cheating. His father alleges inadequate medical care contributed to his death and is demanding an investigation. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/358784/teen-jailed-for-exam-cheating-in-guinea-dies-after-sickle-cell-complications-father-says
A tragic incident has unfolded in Guinea where a 17-year-old student, Mamadou Djouma Bah, has died following complications related to sickle cell disease while in detention. Bah was arrested on July 15th for allegedly using his phone during the national school-leaving baccalaureate exam.
Two days later, he was convicted of cheating and handed a six-month prison sentence, with five months suspended. He began serving the one-month sentence at a prison in Kindia. His health reportedly deteriorated while incarcerated, leading to his transfer to a hospital.
According to his father, Mamadou Saliou Bah, the teenager did not receive adequate medical attention during his detention. He recounted a visit to his son in the hospital, where Mamadou Djouma Bah expressed difficulty breathing and told his father, “Dad, I’m dying,” before passing away.
Sickle cell disease is a lifelong, inherited condition common among people of African descent. It causes red blood cells to adopt a sickle shape, which can block blood flow, leading to severe pain, anemia, and increased susceptibility to infections.
The family is calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death, with human rights organizations echoing this demand. Students have protested the detentions, advocating for the release of other students arrested for exam fraud, emphasizing that “a student should not be sent to prison.”
The Education Minister has expressed condolences to the family, while the father laments the loss of his son and pleads for the safety of other detained students, stating, “We lost our son; we lost our future.”