Guinea-Conakry

Guinea-Conakry Information

Map of Guinea-Conakry with the peoples discussed in "Art and Life in Africa" CD-ROM

General Information for Guinea-Conakry

Country: Guinea-Conakry

Location: West Africa

Independence: October 2, 1958

Nationality: Guinean

Capital City: Conakry

Population: 6,549,336

Important Cities: Farana, Kankan, Port Kamsar

Head of State: Lansana Conte

Area: 246,048 sq.km.

Type of Government: Republic

Currency: 2,550 FG = 1USD

Major peoples: Peulh,Malinke,Susu

Religion: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, African religion 7%

Climate: Tropical

Literacy: 24%

Official Language: French

Principal Languages: Madinka, Malinke, Susu, Fulfulde

Major Exports: Bauxite, Iron Ore, Diamond, Gold

Pre-Colonial History Guinea is partial heir to the series of west African empires that, at their height before the arrival of the Europeans, cast significant political and commercial influence over many peoples from Guinea's Atlantic coast to the southern edge of the Sahara. The empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai spanned the period from about the 10th to the 15th centuries. French military penetration into the area began in the mid-19th century. By signing treaties with the French in the 1880s, Guinea's Malinke leader, Samory Toure, secured a free hand to expand eastward. In 1890, he allied himself with the Toucouleur Empire and the Kingdom of Sikasso and tried to expel the French from the area. He was finally defeated in 1898, and France gained control of Guinea and Ivory Coast (now Côte d'Ivoire). France negotiated Guinea's present boundaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the British who controled Sierra Leone, the Portuguese in what is now Guinea-Bissau, and Liberia. Colonial reforms after World War II gradually reduced French administration, and Guineans gained more political responsibility and power. These reforms resulted from a heightened sense of nationalism among educated Guineans, as well as from political pressure within France.

Post-Colonial History In 1974, the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) was founded as a section of the new international African Democratic Rally (RDA), giving Ahmed Sekou Toure and his associates political power. The RDA broke with the communists in 1950, and Toure asserted that the Marxist doctrine of class struggle was inapplicable to Africa and that the movement must be freed of any vestige of European power. Guinea became an independent republic in 1958. Sekou Toure and the PDG remained in power until 1984, when the present government took power one week after the sudden death of Sekou Toure. On July 4, 1985, there was an unsuccessful coup attempt in which a number of people lost their lives. On December 22, 1985, President Conte announced a far reaching economic reform program that has began to revitalize the economy.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. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies.Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid; the IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2005, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets.

revised 15 October 1998

Country:	Guinea-Conakry
Location:	West Africa
Independence:	October 2, 1958
Nationality:	Guinean
Capital City:	Conakry
Population:	6,549,336
Important Cities:	Farana, Kankan, Port Kamsar
Head of State:	Lansana Conte
Area:	246,048 sq.km.
Type of Government:	Republic
Currency:	2,550 FG = 1USD
Major peoples:	Peulh,Malinke,Susu
Religion:	Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, African religion 7%
Climate:	Tropical
Literacy:	24%
Official Language:	French
Principal Languages:	Madinka, Malinke, Susu, Fulfulde
Major Exports:	Bauxite, Iron Ore, Diamond, Gold
Pre-Colonial History	Guinea is partial heir to the series of west African empires that, at their height before the arrival of the Europeans, cast significant political and commercial influence over many peoples from Guinea's Atlantic coast to the southern edge of the Sahara. The empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai spanned the period from about the 10th to the 15th centuries. French military penetration into the area began in the mid-19th century. By signing treaties with the French in the 1880s, Guinea's Malinke leader, Samory Toure, secured a free hand to expand eastward. In 1890, he allied himself with the Toucouleur Empire and the Kingdom of Sikasso and tried to expel the French from the area. He was finally defeated in 1898, and France gained control of Guinea and Ivory Coast (now Côte d'Ivoire). France negotiated Guinea's present boundaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the British who controled Sierra Leone, the Portuguese in what is now Guinea-Bissau, and Liberia. Colonial reforms after World War II gradually reduced French administration, and Guineans gained more political responsibility and power. These reforms resulted from a heightened sense of nationalism among educated Guineans, as well as from political pressure within France.
Post-Colonial History	In 1974, the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) was founded as a section of the new international African Democratic Rally (RDA), giving Ahmed Sekou Toure and his associates political power. The RDA broke with the communists in 1950, and Toure asserted that the Marxist doctrine of class struggle was inapplicable to Africa and that the movement must be freed of any vestige of European power. Guinea became an independent republic in 1958. Sekou Toure and the PDG remained in power until 1984, when the present government took power one week after the sudden death of Sekou Toure. On July 4, 1985, there was an unsuccessful coup attempt in which a number of people lost their lives. On December 22, 1985, President Conte announced a far reaching economic reform program that has began to revitalize the economy.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. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies.Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid; the IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2005, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets.