The Republic of Guinea (République de Guinée) is a nation in northwest Africa. It borders Guinea-Bissau and Senegal on the north, Mali on the north and north-east, the Ivory Coast on the south-east, Liberia on the south, and Sierra Leone on the west. Its territory encompases the water source for the Niger, Senegal, and Gambia rivers. The name Guinea (geographically assigned to most of Africa's west coast, south of the Sahara desert and north of the Gulf of Guinea) originates from Berber and roughly translates into 'land of the blacks.'
République de Guinée
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National motto: Travail, Justice, Solidarité
(French: Work, Justice, Solidarity) |
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| Official language |
French (official), Fula, Arabic, others
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| Capital and largest city |
Conakry
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| Capital's coordinates |
|
| President |
Lansana Conté
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| Prime Minister |
Cellou Dalein Diallo
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Area
- Total
- % water |
Ranked 75th
245,857 km²
Negligible
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Population
- Total (Year)
- Density
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Ranked 83rd
7,466,200
30.4/km²
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GDP (PPP)
- Total (Year)
- GDP/head
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Ranked 112th
$18,690 million
$2,100
|
| Currency |
Guinean franc (FG) |
| Time zone |
UTC
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| Independence |
2 October 1958, from France
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| National anthem |
Liberté |
| Internet TLD |
.gn
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| Calling Code |
224 |
History
Main article: History of Guinea
Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana Conté (head of the military government) was elected president in disputed balloting. Security clampdowns continue, although not as severe as in earlier decades. Reelected in 1998, the President faced growing criticism in 1999 for his jailing of a major opposition leader and widespread economic malaise. Unrest in Sierra Leone also continued to threaten Guinea's stability.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Guinea
Prefectures
Main article: Prefectures of Guinea
Guinea is divided into 33 prefectures and one special zone (the capital, Conakry).
Geography
Main article: Geography of Guinea
The capital is Conakry.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Guinea
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1998. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99. Even with a recovery in prices for some of Guinea's main commodity exports, annual GDP is unlikely to increase by more than 5% in 2000-2001.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Guinea
Culture
Main article: Culture of Guinea
Miscellaneous topics
