THE GEOGRAPHY (Foreign Office UK)
Area: 245, 860 sq km (95, 00 sq mi)
Population: 7.6 million
Capital City: Conakry (population: 1.1
million)
People: There are four main ethnic
groups in Guinea. The Peuhl (41%)
dominates the north west; the Malinke
(25%), the eastern half of the country,
and the Soussou (12%), the area around
Conakry and along the coast. The
southern Forest Region is inhabited by
the Kissi, Loma and Kpelle peoples (10%
each).
Language(s): French is the official
language. Eight languages as are taught
in Guinea' s schools: Basari, Pular,
Kissi, Koniagi, Kpelle, Loma, Malinke and
Susu.
Religion(s): Muslim 85%, Christian 8%,
traditional beliefs 7%
Currency: Guinean Franc (GF)
Major political parties: The ruling party
is the Parti de l'Unite et du Progres
(PUP) Opposition parties: Union pour le
Progres de la Guinee (UPG); Union
pour le Progres et le Renouveau
(UPR); Union des Forces Republicaines
(UFR); Rassemblement du Peuple de
Guinee (RPG).
Government: Guinea is a republic with a
directly elected President and a single
114 seat National Assembly.
GEOGRAPHY
Guinea is situated on the West Coast of
Africa and borders Guinea-Bissau,
Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and
Sierra Leone. The country can broadly
be divided into four areas: a narrow
coastal belt, north-western hill region,
central savannah which is source of
the river Niger and south-eastern rain
forest.
THE HISTORY (Foreign Office UK)
Recent History
In September 1958, Guinea
overwhelmingly rejected membership
of the French franc zone in a
plebiscite. The French withdrew and on
21 October 1958 Guinea proclaimed
itself a sovereign and independent
republic with Sekou Touré, leader of
the Democratic Party of Guinea, as
President. President Touré isolated
himself from the international
community, governed autocratically,
repressed human rights and any
opposition to his style of government.
During his Presidency, over a million
Guineans fled the country. President
Touré died on 3 April 1984 when the
Guinean Armed Forces staged a
bloodless coup. The Military Committee
for National Recovery (CMRN) was set
up with General Lansana Conté as the
President.
In 1990 a new Constitution was
introduced providing for transition
from a dictatorial regime to a
two-party democratic system over a
period of up to five years. But
successive promised elections were
postponed. Amidst opposition protests,
presidential elections finally took place
in December 1993. Conté won but his
opponents complained that the ballot
had been rigged and results in
opposition strongholds annulled.
In December 1998, Conté won his
second five year mandate by a bigger
majority. But his Parti de l'Unite et du
Progres (PUP) did not have the
two-thirds majority needed to amend
the constitution. The opposition
complained of election irregularities
but international observers were
generally satisfied with the election.
Presidential elections are scheduled for
December 2003. On 11 November 2001
a referendum was held in which 96%
of voters elected to amend the
Constitution to allow the President to
serve indefinitely and lift age
restrictions. The referendum was
widely criticised by independent
Guinean newspapers and outside
observers who felt that the
referendum represented a backwards
step on Guinea's road to democratic
change.
Legislative elections were due to take
place in November 2000 but were
postponed because a third of the
country was insecure and many people
had had to leave their homes. The
postponed elections were held on 30
June 2002. President Conté's PUP
party won 85 seats in parliament giving
them a two thirds majority. The official
turnout was 72.4% but reports suggest
this figure is inflated. Only one
opposition party, the Union des Forces
Republicaines (UPR) led by Siradou
Diallo, Contésted the elections winning
20 seats. Other opposition parties
declined to run, including the most
developed opposition party, the
Rassemblement du Peuple Guineen
(RPG), because they were not satisfied
that the elections would be free and
fair. International observers decided
not to observe the elections because it
was clear before polling day that
credible elections would not be held as,
among other things, the electoral
commission was not independent of the
Government and voter lists had not
been updated.
POLITICS
Recent Political Developments
Political parties in Guinea are largely
ethnically based. The ruling PUP draws
its support mostly from the President
Conté's Susu tribe, which dominates
the coastal regions. The opposition has
28 of 113 seats in the National
Assembly. The opposition parties have
formed an umbrella group the Front
pour l'Alternance Démocratique
(FRAD) but are largely disorganised as
an effective opposition.
THE ECONOMY (Foreign Office UK)
option>
GDP: US$ 3.7 billion (1999)
GDP per head: US$ 510 (1999)
Annual Growth: 3.7% (1999)
Inflation: 4.6% (1999)
Major Industries: Mining, in particular
of bauxite but also of aluminium, gold
and other minerals, is Guinea's main
foreign exchange earner. Mining
products account for over 80% of
exports. Agriculture and industry are
also important sectors.
Major trading partners: In 2000 Guinea
exported most to Belgium, US, Ireland
and Russia; and imported most from
France, US, Belgium and Cote d'Ivoire
Trade and investment with the UK: UK
exports to Guinea from January to
September 2002 were £17.92 million
(principally machinery and
manufactured goods). Imports for the
same period were £2.63 million.
Exchange rate: £1 = 2 900 GNF
Trade Partners UK Country Profile:
Guinea
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Guinea's Relations with Neighbours
The Mano River Union (MRU) was
formed in 1973 to establish a customs
and economic union between member
states – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone. Subsequently, members signed
a mutual non-aggression pact and
pledged to establish a permanent
mechanism for conflict prevention.
Despite this, relations between the
three countries have not always been
easy and the MRU has failed to live up
to its original ideals.
For years there has been tension and
conflict between Liberia and Guinea.
Since January 2002 fighting between
President Taylor's armed forces and
the Liberian dissident rebels, the
Liberians United for Reconciliation and
Democracy (LURD) has escalated. Its
declared aim is the overthrow of
Taylor of Liberia. Guinea denies
accusations by Taylor that it supports
the LURD.
Between August 2000 and April 2001,
forces loyal to President Taylor
attacked and blighted much of southern
Guinea. Guinea responded robustly and
the fighting between forces loyal to
President Taylor and LURD spread
throughout northern Liberia. Fighting
has been reported within 15km of the
capital, Monrovia. There have been
various initiatives aimed at restoring
peace to the Mano River Union, the
main initiative being the International
Contact Group on Liberia. See the
Liberia country profile for details.
Guinea has absorbed many thousands
of refugees from the on-going conflict
in Liberia, the rebellion in Côte d'Ivoire
and the previous conflict in Sierra
Leone. This has put Guinea under
severe strain. International aid agencies
such as the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) are
supporting Guinea's efforts.
Guinea has growing trade and tourism
links with Mali and Guinea Bissau.
Guinea's Relations with the International
Community
From January 2002 – December 2004
Guinea will be on the UN Security
Council. It was chair of the Council
during March 2003. Several
international NGOs including Save the
Children, Concern Universal and UN
relief agencies are present in Guinea
and are committed to providing
humanitarian assistance. The Office of
the UNHCR has been providing
assistance to, and helping the return
of, thousands of refugees from Sierra
Leone and Liberia. Guinea has sent
peacekeepers to the United Nations
Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
The EU has called on Guinea to
implement democratic systems and
deregulate its airwaves to allow private
broadcasters. This will improve voter
education. Change is happening slowly.
GUINEA'S RELATIONS WITH THE UK
The UK is working with the UN, EU and
ECOWAS to restore stability to the
Mano River Union, including by playing a
leading role in bringing peace to Sierra
Leone. The UK is supporting work by
the Conakry based Guinean Human
Rights Organisation to raise awareness
of human rights in Guinea, and
providing computers for English
language learning to the University of
Conakry. The UK has sponsored
several English language teaching
projects across the Government.
In July 2002 Guinea opened a Consulate
in London, this reciprocated the UK's
permanent mission in Conakry.
Flags Of The World: Republic of Guinea
privacy policy
disclaimer
credits
