Guinea conakry - country profile (2006)

Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão
Tradução - Interpretação Consecutiva I - 2º semestre 2005/2006
Teacher: João Paulo Galvão
Theme: Guinea-Conakry
Work made by: Sérgio Hugo Lopes Branco
2

Index
Introduction___________________________________4
History_____________________________________5
Geography__________________________________8
Population_________________________________ 9
Economy e resources_________________________10
Culture____________________________________11
Environment _______________________________12
Conclusion___________________________________13
Bibliography__________________________________14
Annexe______________________________________ 15
1. Guinea-Conakry Map______________________16
2. Guinea-Conkry Flag_______________________16
3. Guinea-Conkry Coat of Arms_______________ 16
4. Lansana Conté (fotography)_________________17
5. Guinea-Conakry Localization Map___________ 17
6. General facts about Guinea-Conakry__________17
3

Introduction
This work, made within the compass of the consecutive interpretation discipline
(“Interpretação Consecutiva I”), aims to analyze the main historical, political,
geographic, demographic, economic, cultural and environmental facts of Guinea, a
Western Africa country. Guinea is also known as Guinea-Conakry, to avoid confusion
with Guinea-Bissau.
As a former colony and African country, Guinea-Conakry shares several
characteristics with other African nations, but it also has its own specificities.
Guiné Conakry 4

History
The area covered by the modern state of Guinea has seen itself incorporated into
a succession of empires across the centuries. The earliest of these was the "Ghana
Empire" which came into being around 900. This was followed by the Sosso kingdom
in the 12th
and 13th
centuries. The Mali Empire came to power in the area following the
Battle of Kirina in 1235, defeating the Sosso kingdom. The Mali Empire prospered until
internal problems weakened it, allowing its states to seize power in the 15th
century.
Chief among these was the Songhai state which became the Songhai Empire. This
empire exceeded its predecessors in territory and wealth, but it too fell prey to internal
wrangling and civil war and was eventually toppled at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591.
After this the area fragmented until an Islamic state was founded in the 18th
century,
bringing some stability to the region.
Europeans first came to the area as part of the slave trade, beginning in the mid-
15th
century with the Portuguese sailors. Later, the Fula tribe conquered the Fouta
Djallon region. This tribe had a very important role in the implantation of Islamic
religion, especially when Fulas’ emir began a holy war intending to convert all the
population of the territory to Islam (1725 -19th
century).
In the 18th century, French explorers started to penetrate the Nunez River.
Despite that, the Portuguese controlled most trade routes until the 19th century. In this
century, France established itself, definitively, in Nunez. It was there that France started
making efforts to make Guinea its protectorate. That would happen in 1849. The
territory received the name of South Riviera and was co-administrated along with
Senegal. French domination was assured when they defeated the warrior of the malinke
people Sanory Touré and his troops. That fact gave the French control of the present
Guinea territory, as well as adjacent regions. Between the end of the 19th century and
beginning of the following century, France set out present Guinea borders with the
British and Portuguese territories at the time, which are today, respectively, Sierra
Leone and Guinea-Bissau. In 1890, South Riviera separated itself from Senegal,
becoming the name of French Guinea. In 1895, it integrated French West Africa. The
capital Conakry was founded on Tombo Island in 1890.
The colony was enlarged in the early 20th
century with lands of the Niger River
right bank, parts of Sierra Leone and Liberia interior regions.
Guinea’s status shifted in 1946 to French ultramarine territory. This would not
last much as, in 1958, tired of colonialism, Guinea became the only colony that rejected
association with the 5th
French Republic. Therefore, all the ties with the colonial power
were broken, especially due to Ahmed Sékou Touré’s action (who later would become
President). Touré was the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG) leader and won 56 of the
60 sits in the 1957 territorial elections. They represented a great victory to him as the
Guinean decided, by great majority, to reject the proposal to be part of a French
Community. The French leave as soon as they could and on 2 Oct., 1958 Guinea
achieve independence. This same year Guinea became a UN member. Without French
backing, Touré asked countries like the Soviet Union, China or the U.S.A. for economic
help.
Guiné Conakry 5

Under Touré dictatorship, Guinea was a one-party Marxist socialist republic. He
pursued broadly socialist economic policies and suppressed opposition and free
expression with little regard for human rights, besides having crushed political
opposition. Tens of thousands of people disappeared, or were tortured and executed,
during his 26-year regime.
Guinea cultivated close relations with the Soviet Union but expelled the Soviet
ambassador in 1961 for alleged interference in the country's internal affairs. Touré also
advocated African unity and steered the country into a union (largely symbolic) with
Ghana in 1958; Mali joined in 1961.
In the late 1960s, Guinea sought improved relations with the West, although its basic
international posture was one of nonalignment. Touré fostered Pan-Africanism.
Touré had been believed to defend a nationalism without ethnic barriers, but he
gradually became more dependent on his own ethnical group, the malinke, to fill in
positions in his government. Claiming coup d’état attempts from in and outside Guinean
borders, Touré regime wanted to punish real and imaginary enemies and locked up
thousands in prisons where hundreds would die. The repression lead more than one
million people to the exile and Touré ruined the relationship between Guinea and
foreign countries, including neighbour countries. Guinea’s economic isolation
increased, and later, its economy was devastated. Eventually, Touré's isolationist
policies, brutal suppression of political opponents, and economic failures lost him
public support and led to 1977 riots. These led to some relaxation of state control of the
economy. A softening of Touré's policies was evident towards the end of his tenure; he
abandoned Marxism, normalized relations with France, and secured aid packages from
both France and Arab nations.
After the death of Sékou Touré, on 26 March, 1984, a time of political instability
began. This made a military coup bring the Military Committee of National Recovery
(CMRN) to power under Col. Lansana Conté, on 3 April, 1984. Lansana Conté
immediately turned away from his predecessor's economic policies but continued to
keep a close grip on power. With Conté as president, the CMRN set about dismantling
Touré's oppressive regime, abolishing the authoritarian constitution, dissolving the sole
political party and its mass youth and women's organizations, and announcing the
establishment of the Second Republic. The socialist experiment was abandoned -
without reversing poverty. The new government also released all political prisoners and
committed itself to the protection of human rights. The CMRN also reorganized the
judicial system, decentralized the administration, and began to liberalize the economy,
promote private enterprise, and encourage foreign investment in order to reverse the
steady economic decline under Touré's rule by developing the country's natural
resources.
In late 1989, the government promise political multiparty elections. Consequently,
in 1990, Guineans approved by referendum a new constitution that inaugurated the
Third Republic, and a Supreme Court was established. In 1991, the CMRN was
replaced by a mixed military and civilian body, the Transitional Council for National
Recovery (CTRN), with Conté as president and a mandate to manage a 5-year transition
to full civilian rule. The CTRN drafted "organic" laws to create republican institutions
and to provide for independent political parties, national elections, and freedom of the
Guiné Conakry 6

press. Political party activity was legalized in 1992, when more than 40 political parties
were officially recognized.
Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993. In December that year, Conté
was elected to a 5-year term as president in the country's first multi-party elections,
which were marred by irregularities and lack of transparency on the part of the
government, as well as by scores of killings in the election campaign. To calm down his
oppositors, Conté gave them some positions in the government. At the same time he
repressed the street protests.
In 1995, parliamentary elections were held and the President’s party won once
again. As a result, the accusations of manipulation came back. Conté was reelected in
1998, but the vote was denounced by opposition groups as rigged. In 1999, he was
criticized because he sent an important opposition leader to jail.
From the mid- to late 1990s, Guinea received close to 400,000 refugees from the
civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Beginning in the late 1990s, Guinea saw the
gradual suspension of foreign aid to Conté's government. The loss of aid has hurt
Guinea's economy. In 2000-2001, Guinean villages along the borders of Liberia and
Sierra Leone were raided by foreign rebels, and the Guinean army counterattacked
across the border in retaliation.
The constitution was amended in 2001 to permit the president to run for a third
term. At the same time the presidential term was extended from five years to seven.
Critics say both measures guarantee a lifelong presidency. In December 2003, Conté
was reelected and the opposition candidates boycotted the election. He won with 95% of
the votes.
Fighting erupted between ethnic groups in the Forest Region (SE Guinea) in mid-
2004. The hostilities were aggravated by an influx of combatants from nearby Liberia,
and the region remained unsettled through 2005. In January 2005, there was an attempt
to assassinate Conté, apparently as part of a failed coup. Former Liberian leader Charles
Taylor was later accused of backing the plot in revenge for Conté's support for the
rebels who forced Taylor from power.
Guinea still faces very real problems and according to the International Crisis
Group, a European think-tank, is in danger of becoming a failed state.
Guiné Conakry 7

Geography
The Republic of Guinea (French: République de Guinée), also called 'Guinea
Conakry,' to avoid any possible confusion with Guinea Bissau, its northern neighbour, is
a nation in West Africa. It borders Guinea-Bissau and Senegal on the north, Mali on the
north and north-east, the Côte d'Ivoire on the south-east, Liberia on the south, and Sierra
Leone on the west. The coastline faces the Atlantic Ocean.
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.'
Conakry, besides being the country’s capital, is the largest town in the Republic
of Guinea. It is located in the southwest and is an Atlantic port. Around 1852 thousand
people live in Conakry.
The other main cities are Kankan (55 000 inhab.), Nzérékoré (45 000 inhab.),
Kindia (39 000 inhab.) and Kissidougou (31 000 inhab.) (1995).
The country is divided into four geographic regions: a narrow coastal belt
(Lower Guinea); the pastoral Fouta Djallon highlands (Middle Guinea); the northern
savanna (Upper Guinea); and a southeastern rain-forest region (Forest Guinea). The
Niger, Gambia, and Senegal Rivers are among the 22 West African rivers that have their
origins in Guinea.
The highest point in Guinea, Mont Nimba at 5,748 feet (1,752 m), is located in
this region.
The climate is tropical, generally hot and humid, with a monsoonal-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds and a dry season (December to
May) with northeasterly harmattan winds. In Conakry, the average maximum
temperature is of 29º C and mimimum of 23ºC. In Upper Guinea, the rainy-season is
shorter.
There are 200 miles (320 km) of coastline.
Guinea is divided into 7 administrative regions and subdivided into 34
prefectures. The national capital, Conakry, ranks as a special zone.The administrative
regions include: Boké, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labé, Mamou, Nzérékoré, and
Conakry.
Guiné Conakry 8

Population
In July 2002, Guinea-Conakry had a population of 7,775,065 people. The
density of population was of 30 inhab./ km2
. Guinea is estimated to have 9,690,222
people in July 2006.
At that same time, the birth rate is predicted to be of 41.76 births/1,000
population and the death rate of 15.48 deaths/1,000 population. The life expectancy at
birth is low: 49.5 years. Men are expected to live 48.34 years and women 50.7 years
(2006 est.).
The literacy (people over 15 that can read and write) rate is of 35.9%. The gap
between male and female population is worrying: 49.9% of men can read and write,
meanwhile only 21.9% of women can do it.
As in other developing countries, young people (0-14) are a large part of the
population: 44.4%. Adult population (15-64) represents 52.5% of the total population.
Only in the 3.2% of population with 65 or over there is an important difference between
the number of men and women: around 170 thousand women and 130 thousand men.
There is high infant mortality rate: 90 deaths/1,000 live births
In 1999, the labor force was of 3 million people: 80% worked in agriculture,
20% in industry and 20% in services.
The main ethnical groups are the Pheul (40%), the Manlinke (30%), the Soussou
(20%) e and the Kissi (7%).
The Muslims are the majority (85%). There are also Christians (8%) and people
with indigenous beliefs (7%).
The official language is French, though each tribe has its own language. Arabic
is also spoken.
In the 2005 List of countries by Human Development Index (HDI), made in
2005 (with 2004 data), Guinea is at number 156, among 177 countries. That position
represents low human development.
Guiné Conakry 9

Economy and resources
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. Besides bauxite, the country explores gold
and diamond mines, of which production has increased significatively. Copper and
magnesium are also explored.
Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the
legal framework are needed if the country wants to move out of poverty. Fighting along
the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused
major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Foreign mining
companies have reduced expatriate staff. Panic buying has created food shortages and
inflation and caused riots in local markets.
Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most
assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2004, primarily due to increases in global
demand and commodity prices on world markets. Reconstruction and expansion of
substructures or rural development are the main results of the assistance to Guinea. The
public administration has also been improved. The present GDP is US$ 2100.
Guiné Conakry 10

Culture
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.
National TV (that broadcasts in French, English and regional languages) and
radio are government-controlled, as well as the only daily newspaper. They make short
coverage of the opposition action.
Consequently, after much international and oppostion pressure, the government
open the TV and radio network to private entities in 2005.
A restrictive press law allows the government to censor publications. Over a
dozen newspapers only publish weekly or sporadicly. Most criticize the government.
High prints costs are also an obstacule.
National colours of Guinea are red, yellow and green, the pan-african colours.
They are displayed vertically, in three equally wide stripes. They are the same as those
of Ghana (which are displayed horizontally). Their adoption symbolizes "the continuity
of the human emancipation movement". In a speech, Sékou Touré [first president from
independence to his death - 1958-1984] explained the meaning of the colours.
"Red: the colour of blood, symbol of our anti-colonialist martyrs. It is the sweat
that runs over the ivory body of farmers, factory workers and other active workers. It is
the wish for progress. Therefore red matches perfectly the first word of our motto:
"Travail" (Work).
Yellow: the colour of Guinean gold and African sun. It is the source of energy,
generosity and equality for all men to which he gives light equally. Therefore yellow
matches perfectly with the second word of our motto: "Justice".
Green: the colour of the African vegetation. 85% of the population are farmers
living in the countryside, which is ever covered with a green coat. Green symbolizes
prosperity which will surely arise from the wide wealth of soil and subsoil, and the
difficult life of the countryside masses in our country. Therefore, green will confirm the
meaning of the third word of the motto: "Solidarite'" (Solidarity)".
Guiné Conakry 11

Environment
Guinea has no national parks. As a result, to preserve and to protect the
environment is not easy. The groups of elephants and other animals suffer from the
destruction of their places, as well as fromfurtive hunting.
Baboons and hyenas are the common animals in the country, since wild boars,
several species of antelopes and leopards are rarely seen.
Guiné Conakry 12

Conclusion
Guinea-Conakry, as well as most African countries, is still a developing nation,
as the UN Human Development Index (HDI) shows.
Although Guinea has not had any major armed conflict since its independence in
1958, consecutive economic floatation, foreign countries’ refugees’ crisis and the so-
called “restrictive democracy” regime do not allow a bigger progress. With only two
presidents as an independent nation, Sekou Touré and Lansa Conté, whose term of
office started in 1984 and still lasts today, Guinea politics are worrying, despite the
democratic concessions in the early 1990s. Still, when compared to its neighbours,
Guinea has been a stable country.
Guiné Conakry 13

Bibliography
• MANUEL, Alexandre (director), Grande Enciclopédia do Conhecimento, vol. 8,
Círculo de Leitores (licença editorial cedida a Jornal de Notícias)
Digital Suppor:
• Diciopédia 2004, Porto Editora Multimédia
Nota: pesquisas efectuadas: “Guiné”; “Conacri”; “Império do Mali”
Internet:
• http://africanelections.tripod.com/gn.html
• http://afrika.no/index/Countries/Guinea/index.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Guinea
• http://flagspot.net/flags/gn.html
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032311.stm
• http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specific/Guinea.html
• http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gv.html
• http://www.ethnologue.com/show_map.asp?name=GN&seq=10
• http://www.mbendi.co.za/land/af/gu/p0005.htm
• http://www.tradeport.org/countries/guinea/01grw.html
• http://www.who.int/countries/gin/en/
Nota: all the pages checked on April 7, 2006
Guiné Conakry 14

Annexe
Guiné Conakry 15

1. Guinea-Conakry Map
2. Guinea-Conakry Flag
Guiné Conakry
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Guinea
16

3. Guinea-Conakry Coat of Arms
4. Present president, Lansana Conte 5. Guinea-Conakry Localization Map
Guiné Conakry 17

Guiné Conakry
Capital Conakry
9°30′N 13°43′W
Largest city Conakry
Official language(s)
French (official), Pulaar,
Kissi, Kpelle, Maninka,
Susu, Toma
Government
President
Prime Minister
Republic
Lansana Conté
Cellou Dalein Diallo
Independence
from France
2 October 1958
Area
- Total
- Water (%)
245,857 km² (75th)
94,926 sq mi
Negligible
Population
- July 2005 est.
- Density
9,467,866 (85th)
38.5/km² (133th)
99.7/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
- Total
- Per capita
2005 estimate
$20.74 billion (113th)
$2,200 (173th)
HDI (2003) 0.466 (156th) – low
Currency Guinean franc (GNF)
Time zone
- Summer (DST)
GMT (UTC0)
(UTC)
Internet TLD .gn
Calling code +224
18

6. General facts about Guinea-Conakry
Guiné Conakry 19

Guinea conakry - country profile (2006)

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