Guinea
Republic of GuineaRepublique de Guinee
republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)
Guinea as the 2013 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 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 Gen. Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and fair elections since independence. CONDE in July 2011 survived an attack on his residence allegedly perpetrated by the military. In October 2012, he announced a cabinet reshuffle that removed three members of the military from their positions, making the current administration Guinea's first all-civilian government.
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:
- 0.55 cu km/yr (39%/10%/51%)
- per capita:
- 64.3 cu m/yr (2005)
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 and Society
36 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2013 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2013 est.)
Male · female
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.9 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.79 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2013 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, dengue fever, and yellow fever
- water contact disease:
- schistosomiasis
- aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
- Lassa fever
- animal contact disease:
- rabies (2013)
Government
Republic; President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010); Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010)
20 fieldsPeople's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire, 114 seats, elected 28 September 2013one dot, one seat
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 30 N, 13 42 W
- time difference:
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
7 regions and 1 governate*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 five-year term (eligible for a second term);
- 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)
note: the legislature was dissolved by junta leader Moussa Dadis CAMARA in December 2008 and in February 2010, the Transition Government appointed a 155 member National Transition Council (CNT) that has since acted in the legislature's place pending elections finally held on 28 September 2013
- elections:
- last held on 28 September 2013 (next election scheduled for 2018)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPG 53, UFDG 37, UFR 10, others 14
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, Commercial, and Administrative Chambers, and Chamber of Accounts; court consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and NA members)
- judge selection and term of office:
- court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly;
- other members appointed by presidential decree;
- member tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- Courts of Appeal or Cour d'Appel;
- courts of first instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
- labor court;
- military tribunal;
- High Court of Justice;
- justices of the peace
Political parties and leaders
- National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
- Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]
- Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean Marie DORE]
- Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]
- Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
note: listed are the five most popular parties as of December 2012; overall, there are more than 130 registered parties
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 and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG);
- Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Blaise CHERIF (since 2 September 2011)
- chancery:
- 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 986-4300
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 478-3010
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Alexander Mark LASKARIS (since 10 September 2012)
- 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.
39 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2012 est.)
By end use% of GDP
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 and significant iron ore, gold, and diamond reserves. However, Guinea has been unable to profit from this potential, as rampant corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, and political uncertainty have drained investor confidence.
In the time since a 2008 coup following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, have significantly curtailed their development programs. Throughout 2009, policies of the ruling military junta severely weakened the economy.
The junta leaders spent and printed money at an accelerating rate, driving inflation and debt to perilously high levels. In early 2010, the junta collapsed and was replaced by a transition government, which ceded power in December 2010 to the country's first-ever democratically elected president, Alpha CONDE. International assistance and investment are expected to return to Guinea, but the levels will depend upon the ability of the new government to combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure.
IMF and World Bank programs will be especially critical as Guinea attempts to gain debt relief. International investors have expressed keen interest in Guinea's vast iron ore reserves, which could further propel the country's growth. The government put forward a new mining code in September 2011 that includes provisions to combat corruption, protect the environment, and review all existing mining contracts. Longer range plans to deploy broadband Internet throughout the country could spur economic growth as well.
Agriculture - products
- rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (manioc), bananas, sweet potatoes;
- cattle, sheep, goats;
- timber
Industries
- bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron;
- alumina refining;
- light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
Distribution of family income - Gini index
39.4 (2007) · 40.3 (1994) country comparison to the world: 64
Central bank discount rate
NA% (31 December 2010 est.) · 22.25% (31 December 2005) country comparison to the world: 6
Commercial bank prime lending rate
27% (31 December 2012 est.) · 28% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of narrow money
$1.492 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.38 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Stock of broad money
$1.915 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.731 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Stock of domestic credit
$1.539 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $1.533 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Current account balance
$-1.754 billion (2012 est.); $-1.215 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Exports - partners
India 10.6%, Spain 9.6%, Chile 9.4%, US 7.1%, Ireland 6.3%, Germany 6.3%, Ukraine 5.7%, France 5% (2012)
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$174.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) · $111.8 million (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Debt - external
$2.584 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $3.139 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$145 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Exchange rates
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 6,986 (2012 est.) · 6,658 (2011 est.) · 5,726.1 (2010 est.) · 5,500 (2009) · 5,500 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 395,000 kW(2010 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
1.419 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
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 exceeds 40 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media
- government maintains marginal control over broadcast media;
- single state-run TV station;
- state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas;
- a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations;
- foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2011)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean 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 and voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (2012)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 2,359,203
- females age 16-49:
- 2,329,784 (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
Trafficking in persons
- current situation:
- Guinea is a source, transit, and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking;
- the majority of trafficking victims are Guinean children;
- Guinean girls are subjected to domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation, while boys are forced to beg, work as street vendors or shoe shiners, or miners;
- some Guinean children are forced to mine in Senegal, Mali, and possibly other West African countries;
- Guinean women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude and sex trafficking in Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Greece, and Spain, while Chinese and Vietnamese women are reportedly forced into prostitution in Guinea
- tier rating:
- Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking;
- however, it is making significant efforts to do so;
- a new police unit has been created to focus on human trafficking and child labor;
- the government has initiated five new trafficking investigations but has failed to prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders, which represents a decrease in anti-trafficking law enforcement over the previous year;
- the government fails to provide victims with protective services and has not supported NGOs that assist victims but continues to refer child victims to NGOs on an ad hoc basis;
- Guinean law does not prohibit all forms of trafficking, excluding, for example, forced prostitution of adults and debt bondage, which are not criminalized (2013)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Guinea.” The World Factbook 2013. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guinea/2013.