Guinea
Republic of GuineaRepublique de Guinee
republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)
Guinea as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 133 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls were marred by irregularities.
History repeated itself in December 2008 when following President CONTE's death, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution. His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by General Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and fair elections since independence.
Geography
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
20 fieldsLand useshare of 245,857 sq km
Climate
- generally hot and humid;
- monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds;
- dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%)
- per capita:
- 161 cu m/yr (2000)
Environment - current issues
- deforestation;
- inadequate supplies of potable water;
- desertification;
- soil contamination and erosion;
- overfishing, overpopulation in forest region;
- poor mining practices have led to environmental damage
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands
People
23 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and yellow fever
- water contact disease:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact disease:
- rabies
- aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
- Lassa fever (2009)
Government
Republic; President Alpha Conde (since 21 December 2010); Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire, 114 seats, elected 30 June 2002one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Guinea
- conventional short form:
- Guinea
- local long form:
- Republique de Guinee
- local short form:
- Guinee
- former:
- French Guinea
Capital
- name:
- Conakry
- geographic coordinates:
- 9 33 N, 13 42 W
- time difference:
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
- 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*;
- Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou
Legal system
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Alpha Conde (since 21 December 2010)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits);
- candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president;
- election last held on 27 June 2010 with a runoff election held on 7 November 2010
- election results:
- Alpha CONDE elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote Alpha CONDE 52.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO 47.5%
Legislative branch
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists)
- elections:
- last held on 30 June 2002 (legislative elections first due in 2007 have been rescheduled multiple times and are currently unscheduled)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9
Judicial branch
- Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
- Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel;
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG [Mamadou SYLLA];
- Guinean Union for Democracy or UGD;
- New Democratic Forces or NDF [Muoctar DIALLO];
- Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Sekouba KONATE];
- Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE];
- Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH];
- Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general];
- Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO];
- Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE];
- United Front for Democracy and Change or FUDEC [Francois FALL]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]);
- Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), ECOWAS (suspended), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA
- chancery:
- 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 986-4300
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 483-8688
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER
- embassy:
- Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
- mailing address:
- B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
- telephone:
- [224] 65-10-40-00
- FAX:
- [224] 65-10-42-97
Flag description
- three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
- red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work;
- yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice;
- green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal
Economy
Guinea is a poor country that possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources.
47 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Guinea is a poor country that possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounts for more than 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in the management of the economy, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty.
Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty resulting from the death of President Lansana CONTE in December 2008. International donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, cut their development programming significantly in response to the coup, and international partners have said that a resumption of aid will be contingent on a successful democratic transition with a democratically elected president and a functioning National Assembly.
Growth rose slightly in 2006-08, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but bauxite and alumina exports were negatively affected by the global economic downturn and the economy in 2009 contracted. International investors expressed renewed interest in Guinea's iron ore mines in 2010.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
38.1 (2006) · 40.3 (1994) country comparison to the world: 73
Central bank discount rate
NA% (31 December 2009) · 22.25% (31 December 2005) country comparison to the world: 7
Stock of narrow money
$496.2 million (31 December 2010 est) · $459.7 million (31 December 2009 est) country comparison to the world: 158
Stock of broad money
$830 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $761.9 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Stock of domestic credit
$734.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $674.2 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Agriculture - products
- rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes;
- cattle, sheep, goats;
- timber
Industries
- bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron;
- alumina refining;
- light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
Current account balance
-$434 million (2010 est.) · -$538 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$NA (31 December 2010 est.); $51 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external
$3.072 billion (31 December 2009 est.) · $3.222 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Exchange rates
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 6,100 (2010), 5,500 (2009), 5,500 (2008), 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system
- domestic:
- Conakry reasonably well served;
- coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links;
- fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2009
- international:
- country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media
- government maintains control over broadcast media;
- single state-run TV station;
- state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas;
- about 20 privately-owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations;
- foreign television programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2008)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
National Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
National Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (2009)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 2,292,338
- females age 16-49:
- 2,264,589 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea resulting in domestic instability;
- Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 21,856 (Liberia);
- 5,259 (Sierra Leone);
- 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
- IDPs:
- 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)
Trafficking in persons
- current situation:
- Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation;
- the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking;
- within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold and diamond mines;
- some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea;
- transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation
- tier rating:
- Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking over 2006;
- Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006;
- the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007;
- due to a lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims;
- the government took no measures to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Guinea.” The World Factbook 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guinea/2010.