The Republic of Guinea, previously known as French Guinea is located in the West Africa. Guinea. The curved shaped nation shares its border with Guinea-Bissau and Senegal to the north, Mali to the north and north-east; Côte d'Ivoire to the south-east, Liberia to the south, and Sierra Leone to the west of the southern tip. Conakry is the capital of Guinea.
HISTORY:- Before the advent of the Europeans, Guinea was a part of several empires notably the Ghana Empire, the Sosso Empire, and the Mali Empire. Portugal discovered the region in the 15th century. Fulani Muslims arrived in the land and conquered Guinea. They dominated the country through out the 16th to the 19th century. In 1890, Guinea became a French colony. In 1895, the territory was included in the French West Africa. On 2nd October 1958 Guinea achieved independence with Sékou Touré as the first president. Under Touré’s leadership, the country evolved as the first Marxist state in Africa. In 1965, Soviet Union replaced France in all economic and technical assistance to the nation. After the death of President Touré, Col. Lansana Conté became the head of the nation. In 1989, President Conté legalized multiparty democracy and in 1991, a new constitution was adopted.
GEOGRAPHY:- Guinea is located at 11 00 N, 10 00 W in Western Africa. The nation captures total 245,857 sq km area. Guinea shares its land border with Cote d'Ivoire (610 km), Guinea-Bissau (386 km), Liberia (563 km), Mali (858 km), Senegal (330 km), Sierra Leone (652 km). The coastline is 320 km long along with the North Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Mont Nimba (1,752 m). Guinea is mostly hilly to mountainous in the interior with flat coastal plains.
CLIMATE:- The climate of Guinea is generally hot and humid. The monsoonal rainy season with southwesterly winds persists from June to November and the dry season with northeasterly harmattan winds persists from December to May.
GOVERNMENT:- Guinea is a republic. The constitution was adopted on 23rd December 1990. The legal system is based on the French civil law system. The three major branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. The President is elected by the popular vote on a seven year term. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the President.
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. The President is elected by the popular vote on a seven year term. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the President.
Legislative branch comprises the unicameral People's National Assembly (114 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Court of First Instance, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Leading political party is Party for Unity and Progress. Prominent opposition political parties include Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Union for Progress and Renewal (UPR), Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), Union for Progress of Guinea (UPG), Union of Republican Forces (UFR). Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.
President Lansana Conté
Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souaré
Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souaré
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Guinea is divided into 7 administrative regions which are further sub-divided into 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (Conakry).
The 7 administrative regions are:
Boké Region
Conakry Region
Faranah Region
Kankan Region
Kindia Region
Labé Region
Mamou Region
Nzérékoré Region
The 7 administrative regions are:
Boké Region
Conakry Region
Faranah Region
Kankan Region
Kindia Region
Labé Region
Mamou Region
Nzérékoré Region
CULTURE:- Guinea has a rich musical heritage. The most popular sport of Guinea is football (soccer).
ECONOMY:- Guinea is an under-developed country though having almost 50% of the world’s bauxite reserves. It is the 2nd highest bauxite producing country of the world.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $9.741 billion; per capita $1,000.
Real growth rate: 1.5%.
Inflation: 20%.
Unemployment: n.a.
Arable land: 4%.
Agriculture: Rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber.
Labor force: 3.7 million (2006); agriculture 76%, industry and services 24% (2006 est.).
Industries: Bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries.
Budget:
Revenues: $375 million
Expenditures: $802.3 million (2007 est.)
Revenues: $375 million
Expenditures: $802.3 million (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $3.307 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Natural resources: Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish.
Exports: $998 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, and agricultural products.
Imports: $838 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs.
Major trading partners: Russia, Spain, France, Belgium, South Korea, US, Germany, Ireland, UK, Switzerland, Ukraine, China, Netherlands (2006).
Monetary unit: Guinean franc
LANGUAGE:- The official language of Guinea is French. Native tongues like Malinké, Susu, Fulani are also widely spoken.
CITIES:- The capital and the largest city is Conakry. Other major cities are Guéckédou, Boké, Kindia, N'Zérékoré, Macenta, Mamou, Kankan, Faranah, Siguiri, Dalaba, Labe, Pita and Kamsar.
POPULATION:- The estimated population of Guinea is 9,947,814 with a growth rate of 2.6%.
Density per sq mi: 105
Literacy rate: 29.5% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 105
Literacy rate: 29.5% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Peuhl 40%
Malinke 30%
Susu 20%
Smaller tribes 10%
Peuhl 40%
Malinke 30%
Susu 20%
Smaller tribes 10%
RELIGION:-
Islam 85%
Christian 8%
Indigenous 7%
Islam 85%
Christian 8%
Indigenous 7%
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 41.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 87.17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.8 years
Total fertility rate: 5.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 9,000 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 110
Birth rate: 41.31 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 87.17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.8 years
Total fertility rate: 5.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 9,000 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 110
UNICEF:- The Guinean government, along with Mali and Côte d’Ivoire governments ratify against child trafficking across their borders. With the assistance of the Guinean government, UNICEF and other NGOs tries to eliminate cholera and promotes the affects of the yellow fever and tries to stop it to spread like an epidemic. In 2005, 2 tetanus campaigns were organized. UNICEF immunized 2.2 million under-five children against polio. UNICEF distributed 200,000 doses of measles vaccine to almost 69 health centres. The Guinean children are also provided with therapeutic feeding and high-energy biscuits. 500 latrines were re-built, 20 wells were equipped with pumps to reduce the risk of diarrhea for over 20,000 people. UNICEF built 33 classrooms in refugee camps to accommodate 1,300 children and also distributed educational materials to them. UNICEF also provided trained teachers to support the children psychologically and socially.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 837 km (2006).
Highways: total: 44,348 km; paved: 4,342 km; unpaved: 40,006 km (2003).
Waterways: 1,300 km (2005).
Ports and harbors: Kamsar.
Airports: 16 (2007).
Railways: total: 837 km (2006).
Highways: total: 44,348 km; paved: 4,342 km; unpaved: 40,006 km (2003).
Waterways: 1,300 km (2005).
Ports and harbors: Kamsar.
Airports: 16 (2007).
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