Guinea has had only two presidents 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 have been marred by irregularities. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased. Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006; a third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in many Guinean cities and prompted two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest, CONTE named a new prime minister in March 2007.

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
11 00 N, 10 00 W
Africa
total: 245,857 sq km ; land: 245,857 sq km ; water: 0 sq km
slightly smaller than Oregon
total: 3,399 km ; border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
320 km
territorial sea: 12 nm ; exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m ; highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
arable land: 4.47% ; permanent crops: 2.64% ; other: 92.89% (2005)
950 sq km (2003)
226 cu km (1987)
Total: 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%) ; Per capita: 161 cu m/yr (2000)
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage
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
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands
9,947,814 (July 2007 est.)
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 2,226,414/female 2,183,153) ; 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,611,833/female 2,610,773) ; 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 138,392/female 177,249) (2007 est.)
total: 17.7 years ; male: 17.5 years ; female: 17.9 years (2007 est.)
2.62% (2007 est.)
41.53 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
15.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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: 0.781 male(s)/female ; total population: 1.001 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
total: 88.58 deaths/1,000 live births ; male: 93.68 deaths/1,000 live births ; female: 83.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total population: 49.65 years ; male: 48.5 years ; female: 50.84 years (2007 est.)
5.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)
3.2% (2003 est.)
140,000 (2003 est.)
9,000 (2003 est.)
noun: Guinean(s) ; adjective: Guinean
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
definition: age 15 and over can read and write ; total population: 29.5% ; male: 42.6% ; female: 18.1% (2003 est.)
degree of risk: very high ; food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever ; vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations ; water contact disease: schistosomiasis ; respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis ; aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2007)

conventional long form: Republic of Guinea ; conventional short form: Guinea ; local long form: Republique de Guinee ; local short form: Guinee ; former: French Guinea
republic
name: Conakry ; geographic coordinates: 9 33 N, 13 42 W ; time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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

2 October 1958 (from France)
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) ; head of government: Prime Minister Lansana KOUYATE (since 26 February 2007) ; cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president ; 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 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December 2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president ; election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists ; elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2008) ; 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 ; note: legislative elections were due in 2007 but have been postponed
Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP (the governing party) [Lansana CONTE]; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]
National Confederation of Guinean Workers - Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance: National Confederation of Guinean Workers [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of Guinean Workers [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]; Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]; National Council of Civil Society Organizations of Guinea CNOSCG [Ben Sekou SYLLA]
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
chief of mission: Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA ; chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 ; telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420 ; FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
chief of mission: Ambassador Phillip CARTER III ; 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] 30-42-08-61 through 68 ; FAX: [224] 30-42-08-73





Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, 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 due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in 2006-07, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.
$9.741 billion (2007 est.)
$3.894 billion (2007 est.)
1.5% (2007 est.)
$1,000 (2007 est.)
agriculture: 22% ; industry: 40.5% ; services: 37.6% (2007 est.)
3.7 million (2006 est.)
agriculture: 76% ; industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)
NA%
47% (2006 est.)
lowest 10%: 1.9% ; highest 10%: 41% (2006)
38.1 (2006)
20% (2007 est.)
11.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
revenues: $382 million ; expenditures: $817.4 million (2007 est.)

rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
7.6% (2007 est.)
840 million kWh ; note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2006)
fossil fuel: 45.5% ; hydro: 54.5% ; nuclear: 0% ; other: 0% (2001)
832.9 million kWh (2006)
0 kWh (2006)
0 kWh (2006)
0 bbl/day (2006 est.)
9,650 bbl/day (2006 est.)
0 bbl/day (2004)
8,481 bbl/day (2004)
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
0 cu m (2005 est.)
0 cu m (2005 est.)
0 cu m (2005 est.)
0 cu m (2005)
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
-$175 million (2007 est.)
$998 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Russia 11.7%, Ukraine 9.6%, South Korea 8.9%, Spain 8.1%, France 7.8%, US 7.8%, Germany 5.4%, Ireland 5.1% (2006)
$838 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)
China 8.6%, France 8.1%, Netherlands 4.8%, Belgium 4.4% (2006)

$119 million (31 December 2007 est.)
$3.298 billion (31 December 2007 est.)


$NA
Guinean franc (GNF)
GNF
Guinean francs per US dollar - 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003)
calendar year
$182.1 million (2005)
26,300 (2005)
189,000 (2005)
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; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 2 per 100 persons ; international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
AM 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)
357,000 (1997)
6 (2001)
85,000 (1997)
.gn
173 (2007)
4 (2001)
50,000 (2006)

16 (2007)
total: 5 ; over 3,047 m: 1 ; 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 ; 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2007)
total: 11 ; 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 ; 914 to 1,523 m: 3 ; under 914 m: 2 (2007)


total: 837 km ; standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge ; narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
total: 44,348 km ; paved: 4,342 km ; unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)

Conakry, Kamsar

Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2007)
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)
males age 18-49: 1,852,534 ; females age 18-49: 1,827,560 (2005 est.)
males age 18-49: 1,034,006 ; females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)

1.7% (2006)

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 (country of origin): 54,810 (Liberia), 5,423 (Sierra Leone), 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire) ; IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2006)


