General Information
Area: 245,857 sq km (94,926 sq miles).
Population: 8,359,000 (2002).
Population Density: 34.0 per sq km.
Capital: Conakry.
Population: 1,092,936 (1996 census).

Geography:
The Republic of Guinea is located in West Africa and bordered to the northwest by Guinea-Bissau, the north by Senegal and Mali, the east by Côte d’Ivoire, the south by Liberia and the southwest by Sierra Leone. Guinea’s many rivers supply water to much of West Africa. The River Niger flows north from the southern highlands into Mali before turning south again through Niger and Nigeria. The coastal plain is made up of mangrove swamps, while inland are the Fouta Djallon hills which form several distinct ranges and plateaux over the whole of western Guinea. In the northeast, savannah plains of the Sahel region stretch into Mali. To the south are mountains known as the Guinea Highlands. Government: Republic since 1958. Gained independence from France in 1958. Head of State: President Lansana Conté since 1984.

Language:
French is the official language. Susu, Malinké and Poular are major local languages.

Religion:
The majority of the population are Muslim, with animistes and Roman Catholic Protestant minorities.

Time:
GMT.

Electricity:
220 volts, 50Hz.

Communications
Telephone:
IDD service is available. Country code: 224. The communication is relatively poor and outgoing international calls must be made through the operator. Limited telephone and fax lines are usually available 1800-0600.
Mobile telephone:
GSM 900 networks covering main inhabited areas are operated by Celtel Guinea (website: www.msi-cellular.com), Sotelgui, Spacetel Guinee and Telecel Guinee SARL. Post: There are numerous post offices in the capital.
Internet:
ISPs include ETI-Bull and BINNTA.
Press:
Newspapers include a half a dozen daily papers.
Radio:
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

History and Government
Modern Guinea was part of the Mali empire, which espoused Islam and dominated the region between the seventh and 15th centuries. Portuguese explorers arrived in the region during the mid-15th century and over the next 300 years they, the British and the French made Guinea the centre of a major slave trade.

In 1849, the French declared the Boke region a French protectorate. The division between the Guinea Republic and Guinea-Bissau dates from a Franco-Portuguese agreement of 1886, one of many concluded in West Africa to settle the competing claims of European colonialists. In 1895, the French incorporated the Boke province – the heart of the Guinea republic today – along with adjacent territory which they had taken control of, into French West Africa. The region was a single entity comprised mostly of modern-day francophone West Africa, which was governed from Dakar. When French West Africa was dissolved in 1958 prior to decolonisation, Guinea was the only former French protectorate which refused to join the French Community upon independence.

After the departure of the French, political power was assumed by the Parti Democratique de Guinée (since renamed the Parti pour l’Unité et le Progrès, PUP), which became the sole legitimate political party. However, by 1983, the regime’s extreme mismanagement and repressive behaviour had driven an estimated two million people into exile. In March 1984, the ruler of Guinea since independence, President Sekou Touré, died and the army immediately seized power in a bloodless coup led by Colonel Lansana Conté. The Conté government straight away set about improving badly damaged political and economic links with its West African neighbours. In 1989 Conté unveiled plans for a gradual move towards democratic government. A new constitution, known as the Third Republic, was accepted by national referendum in December 1990. The first presidential elections under the new constitution were held in December 1993 and won by Conté.

Guinea has recently become embroiled in the struggles for territory and mineral wealth that have engulfed neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Guinean army has had to deal with refugees from Sierra Leone (numbering 80,000) and Liberia (70,000) who have fled to Guinea to escape fighting in the area where the borders of the three countries meet: by April 2002, the refugees numbered about 150,000 split roughly evenly between Liberians and Sierra Leoneans. Some of the fighting spilled over into Guinea, and the country has only narrowly avoided full-scale involvement. A large UN peacekeeping force brought an end to the civil war in Sierra Leone in 2002 but fighting continues in Liberia. Further afield, Guinea attracted rare international attention as a member of the United Nations Security Council which in 2002 deliberated the issue of Iraq. Despite occasionally intense pressure, the Guineans remained circumspect amid the furious argument between the pro- and anti-invasion factions of the Council.

Government: Under the terms of the Constitution of 23 December 1991, the President of the Republic, who holds executive power, is elected for five years. Under amendments made in November 2001, the term has been increased to seven years. The 114-member unicameral National Assembly, which holds legislative power, serves a five-year term.

Social Profile
Food & Drink
Restaurants, except in the capital where Western-style food is available, generally serve local dishes including jollof rice, stuffed chicken with groundnuts, and fish dishes. These are usually served with rice and may be spicy. Staples are cassava, yams and maize. Guineans are fond of very hot maize soup, served from calabashes.
Main hotels, mostly in the capital, have reasonable restaurants where a wide variety of alcoholic beverages is served, including good West African brands of beer. This is also available in local bars.

Nightlife
Although there are theatres, nightclubs and cinemas, Guineans prefer to make their own entertainment. In the streets people can often be seen gathered together to dance, sing and play traditional musical instruments or home-made guitars. Conakry is a dynamic centre for music and the singing of the Kindia people is renowned.

Shopping
Although department stores in the major cities are poorly stocked, local markets sell a unique display of goods. Special purchases include brightly coloured, distinctive Guinean clothes, woodcarvings, leather rugs in bold black-and-white designs, skins, locally produced records, calabashes and jewellery. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800.

Special Events
The main events celebrated in Guinea are Muslim holydays and feasts. The following is a selection of special events celebrated annually in Guinea Republic:
Feb Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). May Mouloud (Prophet’s Anniversary). Nov Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).

Social Conventions
Although Muslim customs are less strict than in the Arab world, beliefs and traditions should be respected by tourists. Casual dress is acceptable. It is important to greet people and ask them how they are before starting a conversation. Guineans always use titles when addressing others, so the visitor should do likewise (Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle etc).