Mamoudou Nagnalen Barry is a Guinean economist, public-sector leader, political activist and author whose career spans international finance, government and strategic infrastructure development. Originally from Kankan, Guinea, he has built a professional profile combining economic expertise, public administration and a commitment to national development.
Barry completed his secondary education at Lycée Morifindjan Diabaté in Kankan before attending the Université Général Lansana Conté, where he graduated top of his class in economics and finance. In 2013, he received a scholarship supported by the Japanese government and the Bretton Woods institutions to pursue postgraduate studies at the Center for Development Economics at Williams College in Massachusetts, United States. His other qualifications include a master's degree in financial strategy, a law degree and doctoral studies in business administration at the Académie des Sciences de Management de Paris, in partnership with BEM Dakar. He also completed advanced accounting and tax law coursework through INTEC Paris.
Before entering government, Barry developed an international career in auditing, banking supervision, investment and development finance. He began his professional journey at the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, where he worked as a banking supervisor and inspector. He subsequently served as a consultant for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Conakry and as a national investment expert for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), providing technical assistance to Guinea's Agency for the Promotion of Private Investment (APIP-Guinée), with support from the African Development Bank.
His experience extended across Africa and Southeast Asia, including assignments involving Indonesia, Vietnam, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire and other countries. Before his ministerial appointment, he worked as a financial development specialist at the World Bank in Washington, gaining exposure to international development policy and economic reform.
Alongside his professional career, Barry became involved in Guinea's civic and political movements. He was a technical and strategic adviser to the Front National pour la Défense de la Constitution (FNDC), which opposed former President Alpha Condé's bid for a third term. In 2015, he was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). He also co-founded the Organisation pour le Changement Positif, a nongovernmental organisation.
On 29 October 2021, Barry was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in Guinea's transitional government. He retained the portfolio under Prime Minister Bernard Goumou and served until the government's dissolution on 19 February 2024. During his tenure, he emphasised agricultural productivity, improved management of farming inputs and stronger support for rural communities.
A major transition in Barry's career came on 22 April 2025, when he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG). The company plays a central role in the governance and development of the integrated railway and port infrastructure associated with Guinea's landmark Simandou iron ore project.
In this position, Barry contributes to strategic oversight, corporate governance and coordination among the state and international project partners. His priorities include accelerating infrastructure implementation, strengthening accountability, expanding employment opportunities, transferring technical skills and ensuring that the project delivers tangible benefits for Guinea. His background in finance and government provides a foundation for addressing the institutional and economic challenges associated with one of the country's most consequential infrastructure developments.
Barry is also an author whose publications address social inequality, money and economic governance. His works include L'école des pauvres et des riches (2016), L'odeur de l'argent (2020) and Guinée, indiscipline financière et opportunités manquées (2024), published by Éditions L'Harmattan Guinée.
Today, Barry occupies an important position at the intersection of economic policy, infrastructure governance and Guinea's mining-led transformation. Although his background is primarily in finance and public administration rather than direct mine operations, his leadership at CTG places him at the centre of the institutional framework supporting the Simandou project. His effectiveness will be measured in part by the project's delivery, its contribution to national development and the extent to which Guinean businesses and workers benefit from the opportunities it creates.