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Guinea
Overview
Country Overview
The Republic of Guinea is located in West Africa and bounded by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. 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. In the northeast, savannah plains of the Sahel region stretch into Mali. To the south are mountains known as the Guinea Highlands.
Guinea's main attraction to tourists is its relatively undisturbed countryside. Its landscape varies from mountains to plains and from savannah to forest.
The capital, Conakry, is located on the island of Tumbo and connected to the Kaloum Peninsula by a 300m-long (984ft) pier. The city is well laid out, its alleys shaded by mangrove and coconut palm trees.
One dish visitors are likely to be offered is hot maize soup, served from calabashes.
Guinea has a strong music tradition and Conakry, in particular, is a dynamic centre for music. The singing of the Kindia people is especially renowned.
General Information
Area: 245,857 sq km (94,926 sq miles).
Population: 7,164,823 (1996).
Population Density: 29.1 per sq km.
Capital: Conakry. Population: 1,091,483 (1996).
GEOGRAPHY: The Republic of Guinea is located in West Africa and bounded 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: Prime Minister Laimine Sidime since 1999.
Language: French is the official language. Susu, Malinké and Fula are local languages.
Religion: Seventy-four per cent 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), Spacetel Guinee and Sotelgui.
Post
There are numerous post offices in the capital.
Internet
ISPs include ETI-Bull (website: www.eti-bull.net) and BINNTA.
Press
Newspapers include Horoya (official, daily), Le Lynx (satirical, weekly), L'Indépendant (weekly), Journal Officiel de Guinée (official, fortnightly) and L’Evènement de Guinée (monthly).
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | Yes | No | | Australian | Yes | Yes | No | | Canadian | Yes | Yes | No | | USA | Yes | Yes | No | | OtherEU | Yes | Yes | No | | Japanese | Yes | Yes | No |
PASSPORTS: Passports valid for a minimum of six months beyond date of departure required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Tunisia for a maximum stay of three months;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: £65 (Single-entry for a stay of up to one month); £90 (Double-entry for a stay of up to three months). Transit: approximately £65.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy). UK nationals may apply to the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Guinea in London (see Contact Addresses section).
Application requirements: (a) One application form. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Passport with a remaining validity of six months after intended length of stay. (d) Proof of sufficient funds and letter of invitation or hotel reservation. (e) If travelling on business, a letter from the sponsoring company, if available.
Working days required: Two days.
Money
Currency: Guinea Franc (FG) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of FG5000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of FG25, 10, 5 and 1.
Currency exchange: Hotels will accept some foreign currencies in payment. Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish.
Credit & debit cards: Limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Euros.
Currency restrictions: Import or export of local currency is prohibited. Import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival; export is limited to the amount declared on arrival.
Note: It is compulsory to exchange a certain amount of foreign currency. The amount depends on the length of stay specified in the visa, and is at the discretion of the immigration authorities. Unused currency can sometimes be re-exchanged – again at the discretion of the authorities. Travellers are advised the check that the amounts exchanged have been entered correctly onto the declaration form.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Guinea Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 2878.90 | 3006.06 | 3125.64 | 3152.66 | | $1.00= | 1975.50 | 1976.50 | 1976.50 | 1980.00 |
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230 and 1430-1630.
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Guinea without incurring customs duty:
1000 cigarettes or 250 cigars or 1kg of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage (opened); a reasonable quantity of perfume.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 12 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 14 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). May 29 Ascension. Aug 15 Assumption. Aug 27 Anniversary of Women’s Revolt. Sep 28 Referendum Day. Oct 2 Republic Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 22 Laila toul Kadir (day after the night’s vigil); Day of 1970 Invasion. Nov 26-28 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 2 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). May 20 Ascension. Aug 15 Assumption. Aug 27 Anniversary of Women’s Revolt. Sep 28 Referendum Day. Oct 2 Republic Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 10 Laila toul Kadir (day after the night’s vigil). Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Nov 22 Day of 1970 Invasion. Dec 25 Christmas Day.
Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | 2 | No | | Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A | | Malaria | 4 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.
2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Guinea. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information.
3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often recommended.
4: A malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases, including giardiasis, and typhoid fevers are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are present. Hepatitis A and E are widespread. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Epidemics of meningococcal disease may occur, particularly in the savannah areas and during the dry season. Immunisation against diphtheria is sometimes recommended.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Health insurance is essential. There are rudimentary medical, dental and optical facilities in Conakry. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services.
Travel - International
Note: Visitors are strongly recommended not to travel to the borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone. For further information seek official advice.
AIR: Guinea’s national airline is Guinee Airlines (J9). Air France operates five flights a week from London to Conakry, via Paris. Air Afrique operates from New York to Dakar, from where connecting flights are available. Other airlines serving Guinea incude Ghana Airways.
Approximate flight times: From Conakry to London is 11 hours (including a stopover time in Paris or Brussels of up to three hours).
International airports: Conakry (CKY) is 13km (8 miles) southwest of the city. Taxis are available to the city.
Note: Foreigners at Conakry Airport are particular targets for pickpockets and persons posing as officials who will offer assistance and then make off with bags, purses and wallets. Being met at the airport by travel agents, business contacts, family members or friends lessens the risk of this.
Departure tax: None.
SEA/RIVER: The fast hydrofoil service along the coast from Conakry to Freetown may resume operation when the civil war in Sierra Leone is over. There is a ferry to Mali which operates when the river is high enough.
ROAD: There are road links with Danané (Côte d’Ivoire), Bamako (Mali), Tambacounda (Senegal) and Freetown (Sierra Leone; border area unsafe at present). Bus services are available to the neighbouring countries (except Sierra Leone), but services can be unreliable and timetables may be purely theoretical (see also Travel – Internal section). Visitors should also note that political instability is persisting in some neighbouring countries – notably in Sierra Leone and in Guinea-Bissau. Check with an Embassy or relevant organisation for up-to-date travel advice.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Guinee Airlines operates internal services to some of the main towns, such as Conakry, Labé, Kankan, Boké, Kissidougou, Macenta, Nzérékoré and Siguiri. Schedules are erratic.
RAIL: There are no rail services at present.
ROAD: Roads are in poor condition and little used, and the minor roads are overgrown with bush. Travel by road is often impossible in the rainy season (May-Oct). The roads between Conakry (via Kindia) and Kissidougou and from Boké to Kamsar are both paved, as is the road to Freetown. Traffic drives on the right. In an effort to counter urban crime, the Guinean Government maintains roadblocks from 0000-0600. Bus: The government bus company, SOGETRAG, operates services from Conakry to most other towns. The buses are fairly comfortable and good value. Taxi: These are available, although fares should be negotiated in advance. Bush taxis, which usually cover smaller distances than buses, take up to seven passengers.
URBAN: Buses and taxis operate cheaply within Conakry. It is not usual to tip taxi drivers.
Accommodation
HOTELS: In Conakry there are a few fairly expensive hotels of a good standard. In addition, the city centre also has a number of good-value hotels with basic, but appropriate, facilities. Outside the city centre, accommodation gets sparser, but there are hotels available, for instance in Labé, Kindia and Dalaba. Visitors are advised to book in advance and obtain written confirmation.
REST HOUSES: These are available in most of the major towns; enquire locally.
Introduction
In 1958, when it declared independence from France and voted in a staunchly socialist one-party government, Guinea became an isolated and secretive country. However, after the death of the dictator Sekou Touré in 1984, Guinea began, slowly, to allow tourists through its once stubbornly closed doors. Even so, it is still one of the least visited countries in Africa and it can be difficult, despite declarations to the contrary, to acquire visas.
Guinea’s main attraction to tourists is its relatively undisturbed countryside. Its landscape varies from mountains to plains and from savannah to forest, and the three great rivers of West Africa – the Gambia, the Senegal and the Niger – all originate here.
The capital, Conakry, is located on the island of Tumbo and is connected to the Kaloum Peninsula by a 300m-long (984ft) pier. The city is well laid-out, its alleys shaded by mangrove and coconut palm trees. The Cathedral, built in the 1930s and located in the town centre, is well worth viewing. There is also a National Museum. The Kakimbon Caves in the village of Ratoma, now a suburb of Conakry, are the source of many interesting legends and are bestowed with great religious significance by the local Baga people. The Îles de Los, off the Kaloum Peninsula some 10km (6 miles) south-west of Conakry, are recommended as a tourist destination and are easily accessible from Conakry. Good beaches can also be found at the Île de Roume and Île de Kassa, the latter being accessible via a public boat service. Approximately 150km (93 miles) outside Conakry is the picturesque La Voile de la Marée, nestled at the bottom of a 70m-high (230ft) rock from which the River Sabende plunges, amidst lush vegetation, into a deep pond. In Pita, located between Dalaba and Labé, the Kinkon Falls can be found which produce 150m (492ft) of cascading water.
Known as the land of waters, fruit, faith and freedom, the Fouta Djalon highlands are renowned for their picturesque hills, offering superb views, and the rolling valleys and waterfalls, which are all presided over by the mostly Muslim population of Fula herders and farmers. In the eastern region of Guinea lie many historical towns with echoes and remnants of medieval empires. Along a road following the Nimba Range, which stretches from Guinea to the Côte d’Ivoire, small groups of round houses nestle in traditional African villages. In the south is the Guinée Forestière, a highland area of rainforest and old pre-Islamic tribes.
There are no national parks in Guinea, but wildlife can be best seen in the northeast savannahs between the Tinkisso River and the Mali border, in the foothills of the Fouta Djalon highlands and in the southeast.
Sport & Activities
In Landreah is the 28 September Stadium where a number of sporting events are held. Football is the most popular sport and the national team is of a good standard. The best beaches for swimming are on the Îles de Los (which lie just off the coast near Conakry), the Île de Roume and the Île de Kassa, but currents can be strong and swimmers are advised to exercise care and follow local advice.
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 are 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.
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. Street crime is relatively common. 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). Photography: A permit (applied for in advance) has to be obtained from the Ministère de l’Intérieur et de la Sécurité when photographing government buildings, military and transportation facilities or public works. It is inadvisable to photograph buildings at present, and visitors should always ask local people if they want to photograph them. Tipping: A five per cent service charge will usually be included in the bill.
Business Profile
Economy: Given its resources, Guinea should not be suffering its current impoverished condition in which the annual per capita income is just over US$1000. The majority of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, producing cassava and rice as staples, plus fruit, palm, groundnuts and sometimes coffee as cash crops. Fisheries have undergone major growth in the last ten years. The main part of the industrial economy is mining. Guinea has huge reserves of bauxite (perhaps one-quarter of the world’s total) which account for more than 90 per cent of export earnings; there are also substantial diamond deposits. Guinea also boasts massive hydroelectric power potential, some of which has been tapped.
The country’s economic progress has, however, been hampered by the absence of the necessary legal, corporate and governmental machinery, allied to corruption and maladministration. For the time being, Guinea will continue to depend on substantial foreign aid, principally from France, although it is also deriving growing benefit from burgeoning regional co-operation: Cameroon, for example, processes much Guinean bauxite ore to produce aluminium.
Guinea is a member of both the Mano River Union (with Liberia and Sierra Leone) and of the Gambia River Development Organisation (with Gambia and Senegal). The country is also a member of the West African economic community, ECOWAS. France (the main recipient of Guinea’s exports) and the USA are the country’s main trading partners.
Business: Appointments should be made in advance. Tropical-weight suits and ties are worn by some business visitors, but these are not essential. A knowledge of French is helpful. Office hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1630, Fri 0800-1300.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de Guinée, BP 545, Conakry (tel: 464 216 or 414 217).
Climate
The climate is tropical and humid with a wet and a dry season. Guinea is one of the wettest countries in West Africa. The wet season lasts from May to October; dry season lasts from November to May.
Required clothing: Tropical or washable cottons throughout the year. A light raincoat or umbrella is needed during the rainy season.
History and Government
History: 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), 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 who defeated seven other candidates. At the beginning of February 1996, Conté survived an attempted coup, after which he assumed personal control of the country’s armed forces. He also appointed a Prime Minister, Laimine Sidime, for the first time as part of a comprehensive reorganisation of the government. As of August 2002, Sidime was still in charge of the PUP government. A three-year economic reform programme was agreed with the IMF in January 1997 designed to open up the economy and attract foreign investment. In December 1998, Conté was again returned to office after winning the most recent presidential election with an absolute majority.
During 2000, Guinea became embroiled in the struggles for territory and mineral wealth that have engulfed neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone (see relevant country entries for more detail). 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 150,00,00 split roughly evenly between Liberians and Sierra Leoneans.
Government: Under the terms of the Constitution of 23 December 1991 (further amended in April 1992) the President of the Republic is elected for five years. The 114-member unicameral National Assembly, which holds legislative power, also serves a five-year term.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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