SUMMARY

The Torma and Torma Manian lived as neighbors in the Nzérékoré region of Guinea. Disputes about the ancestral ownership of the land led them to clashes on rare occasions, since generally they were used to peaceful coexistence.

The ethnic groups were divided along a religious divide, the Torma was Christian while the Torma Manian was Muslim, however, their disputes were related to the ownership of the land they inhabited, the Nzérékoré region in Guinea, near the border with Liberia. Both groups claimed that their ancestors were the original founders of the territory, which would make them its legitimate owners. The two generally peaceful groups found themselves involved in bloody clashes in 2000 and 2020.

During the clashes, the violence carried out by both sides of the conflict was brutal. Machetes, guns, and other weapons were used, and besides the high number of fatalities, dozens of people were left wounded and several houses were burnt down, which left hundreds homeless. The clashes between both groups were so seldom and brutal that when they happened, the armed forces of the Government of Guinea had to intervene and those identified as being involved, were criminally prosecuted.

The non-state conflict between Torma and Torma Manian is first included in UCDP data in 2000. In January of that year, violent clashes flared up in the town of Korneseredou, Guinea, resulting in 31 fatalities.