N'bany Sidibé has been the president of the Union for Consumer Protection in Guinea (UDCG) since 2011, a position he has held with determination and commitment for more than 14 years. An essential figure in Guinea's socioeconomic landscape, he has established himself as the tireless defender of consumer rights through numerous public interventions and firm positions.
His fight extends across various essential sectors: food safety, where he regularly denounces unjustified price increases for basic necessities and health risks related to food unfit for consumption; telecommunications, where he advocates for fairer and more transparent pricing; real estate, where he campaigns against landlords' abusive practices; and energy, where he opposes measures imposed without consideration for citizens' economic situations. Despite difficulties encountered, notably a traffic accident during a roadside check in January 2025, N'bany Sidibé continues his mission with the same conviction, embodying a true counterpower serving millions of Guinean consumers.
Introduction
N'bany Sidibé is an emblematic figure in consumer protection in the Republic of Guinea. Since 2011, he has held the position of president of the Union for Consumer Protection in Guinea (UDCG), an organization that has established itself as an essential actor in protecting consumer rights in the country.
Known for his outspokenness and unwavering commitment, N'bany Sidibé has distinguished himself through numerous public interventions and firm positions against abuses suffered by Guinean consumers. His fight extends across various economic sectors, from food to telecommunications, energy, and real estate.
Vigilant Defender of Food Safety
Food safety constitutes one of N'bany Sidibé's main battlegrounds. In March 2021, as prices of essential goods experienced a dramatic rise, he directly called on the President of the Republic, inviting him to "move toward price regulation and law enforcement." This intervention demonstrates his constant desire to see authorities assume their responsibilities regarding consumer protection.
His commitment to food safety has also manifested during several food contamination cases. In August 2021, following an alert about contaminated turkey meat from Poland, he denounced "the slow response from the Ministry of Commerce and the government" in managing this health crisis. Similarly, in November 2021, when a shipment of spoiled rice was discovered at the Autonomous Port of Conakry, he demanded the publication of analysis results to ensure transparency and consumer safety.
More recently, in August 2024, he was particularly concerned about the discovery of 10,000 bags of rice unfit for consumption in Coyah, demanding that authorities "tell consumers the truth" about this matter that directly threatened public health.
Key Player in the Telecommunications Sector
N'bany Sidibé has also established himself as an essential interlocutor in the telecommunications sector, where he regularly denounces practices he considers abusive. In January 2022, he welcomed the government's decision to suspend charging for calls to telephone operators' call centers, while calling for further regulation of internet services, which he describes as "opaque" in Guinea.
In May 2023, faced with internet access problems experienced by citizens, he denounced "a systematic violation of conventions" regarding the right to information. More recently, in March 2025, he addressed the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy on the issue of communication tariffs, firmly rejecting "any increase in tariffs" and advocating for a reform of the pricing system.
In April 2025, he opposed Orange Guinea's requirements for mandatory presentation of biometric identification for purchasing and reactivating SIM cards, as well as for accessing Orange Money accounts, considering that this measure deprived many citizens of these essential services.
Commitment to Dignified and Accessible Housing
The real estate sector is also at the heart of N'bany Sidibé's concerns. In September 2022, he denounced what he called "authorities' laxity in respecting regulations" regarding access to housing. He particularly advocates for the elimination of advances and deposits required by landlords, which he considers abusive.
In January 2025, responding to proposed laws in the real estate sector announced by the Minister of Urban Planning, Housing, and Territorial Development, he invited the latter to "review the texts that already exist," particularly the housing and construction code, and to address the real problems faced by consumers, such as the obligation to pay several months in advance for a rental.
Critical Voice Against Energy Sector Failures
N'bany Sidibé has also distinguished himself through his criticisms of energy sector management in Guinea. In August 2024, he firmly opposed the installation of prepaid meters decided by the Minister of Energy, Hydraulics, and Hydrocarbons, believing that this measure was imposed without considering consumers' economic situations.
For him, the solution does not lie in imposing prepaid meters, but rather in working on "the price per kilowatt-hour," personalizing subscription contracts, and leaving consumers free to choose between prepaid and post-paid systems.
Defender of Rights Even in Adversity
N'bany Sidibé's commitment to consumer protection has sometimes exposed him to difficult situations. On January 22, 2025, he was involved in a traffic accident during a roadside check in Lambanyi. According to his testimony, despite presenting his proper documentation, police officers demanded money, and it was while being taken to the Kobaya police station that he had an accident with a truck, severely damaging his vehicle.
This incident did not diminish his determination to defend consumer rights. On the contrary, he seized this opportunity to call for reform of the traffic police in Guinea, declaring in February 2025: "We must fight to qualify our traffic police to be on par with other countries."
In continuation of this fight, he also advocated, in January 2025, for reform of the car insurance sector in Guinea, denouncing the fact that "several consumers are victims of non-coverage of traffic accidents, despite being insured."
Ongoing Commitment to Consumer Protection
Through his numerous public interventions and concrete actions, N'bany Sidibé has established himself as an influential voice in Guinea's socio-economic landscape. His fight for consumer rights protection is part of a broader vision of social and economic justice.
In November 2024, he did not hesitate to directly criticize the government for its inability to enforce the protocol agreement it had signed regarding price stability for widely consumed goods. "Our country has ministers of the Republic who are not there for consumers," he declared, lamenting the lack of vision among leaders.
Today, after more than 14 years at the head of the UDCG, N'bany Sidibé continues his fight with the same determination, embodying a necessary form of counterpower in an economy where consumers are often the forgotten ones in public policies and commercial practices.
His relentless commitment to protecting consumer rights, his constant vigilance against abuses, and his ability to directly address the highest state authorities make N'bany Sidibé a respected and listened-to figure in the Republic of Guinea, whose actions continue to positively influence the daily lives of millions of Guinean consumers.
