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

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Travail, Justice, Solidarité (French: Work, Justice, Solidarity)
Official language	French (official), Fula, Arabic, others
Capital and largest city	Conakry
Capital's coordinates
President	Lansana Conté
Prime Minister	Cellou Dalein Diallo
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 75th 245,857 km² Negligible
Population  - Total (Year)  - Density	Ranked 83rd 7,466,200 30.4/km²
GDP (PPP)  - Total (Year)  - GDP/head	Ranked 112th $18,690 million $2,100
Currency	Guinean franc (FG)
Time zone	UTC
Independence	2 October 1958, from France
National anthem	Liberté
Internet TLD	.gn
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

• List of Presidents 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

• List of writers from Guinea

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Guinea
• Transportation in Guinea
• Military of Guinea
• Foreign relations of Guinea
• National Park of Upper Niger