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Country Guide > Africa > Guinea | |
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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 Djalon 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. Head of Government: Francois Loseny Fall became Prime Minister in February 2004 but then left the country and resigned in April 2004 claiming his life would be in danger if he returned. He is currently living in exile and the position has not been reappointed. Language French is the official language. Susu, Malinké and Fula are local languages. Religion The majority of the population are Muslim, with animist and Roman Catholic 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 Horoya (official, daily), Le Lynx (satirical, weekly), L’Indépendant and La Lance (weekly), Journal Officiel de Guinée (official, fortnightly) and L’Evénement de Guinée (monthly). 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. |