 |
Guinea
Guides, Tours |
| Short Information | Capital: Conakry
Language: French
Currency: Guinean franc (GNF) | |
|
 General details about Guinea |  CAPITAL CITY OF Guinea: Conakry
LANGUAGE OF Guinea: French
CURRENCY OF Guinea: Guinean franc (GNF)
COMMENTS ABOUT Guinea:
Cities : Conakry (capital), Labé, Kindia, Kankan, Kissidougou, Nzérékoré, Boke, Faranah, Mamou, Guéckédougou, Forécariah, Dabola, Macenta
Calling Code : +224
Time zone :GMT
Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984, when the military seized the government after the death of the first president Sekou TOURE. 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.
CLIMATE OF Guinea: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
RELIGION OF Guinea: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
POPULATION OF Guinea: 9,246,462 (July 2004 est.)
CULTURA OF Guinea: Like other West African countries, Guinea has a rich musical tradition. The group Bembeya Jazz became popular in the 1960s after Guinean independence. The Vancouver-based guitarist Alpha Yaya Diallo hails from Guinea and incorporates its traditional rhythms and melodies into his original compositions, for which he has won two Juno Awards.
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Guinea: Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, including a loss in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth should strengthen in 2004, however, because of a slowly improving security situation and increased investor confidence.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Home
