Talismans 

south guinea. Full description of Guinea. Armed forces and defense

Guinea is probably the least known country in West Africa. For many years, due to the political situation, this country was off the tourist routes, differing in this from neighboring Senegal and the Gambia. In recent years, the Guinean authorities have taken a number of measures aimed at attracting foreign tourists to the country, who are waiting for picturesque landscapes, valleys, jungles and excellent beaches on the Atlantic coast.

Geography of Guinea

The Republic of Guinea is located in West Africa. Previously, this country was known to us as French Guinea. Sometimes today this state is called Guinea-Conakry (to distinguish it from Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea).

In the north it borders on Senegal, in the northeast and partly in the north - on Mali, in the northwest - on Guinea-Bissau, in the southwest - on Sierra Leone, in the east - on Côte d'Ivoire, and on south - with Liberia. In the west, Guinea is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The total area of ​​this state is 245,857 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 3,399 km.

Guinea is divided into 4 main geographic regions: the Basse-Coté lowlands, the Fouta Djallon mountain plateau running from the server south across the middle of the country, the Sahelian Haute-Guinea in the northeast, and the jungle in the northeast. The highest local peak is Mount Nimba, whose height reaches 1,752 meters.

Capital

Conakry is the capital of the Republic of Guinea. The population of this city is now more than 2.2 million people. Conakry was founded by the French in 1884.

Official language of Guinea

The official language is French.

Religion

About 82% of the inhabitants are Muslims, 8% are Christians, and approximately 5% of the population adhere to local beliefs (animists).

State structure

According to the Constitution, Guinea is a presidential republic headed by the President. The political situation in the country cannot be called stable. From time to time, short-term hostilities break out between different social groups and political parties.

The unicameral local parliament is called the National Assembly of Guinea and consists of 114 deputies.

Administratively, the country is divided into 7 regions, which in turn are divided into 33 prefectures.

Climate and weather

The climate is tropical monsoon. The dry season is from October to March and the wet season is from April to September. On the coast, the air temperature is high throughout the year (especially high temperatures during the dry season).

Rivers and lakes

There are a lot of small rivers in Guinea that flow into the Niger or into the Atlantic Ocean. All these rivers originate in the mountains.

Ocean off the coast of Guinea

In the west, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The length of the coast is 320 km.

culture

The Republic of Guinea is famous for its rich cultural heritage. Guinean music and dance has become known throughout the world thanks to local artistic groups - African Ballets and Djoliba Ballets.

Since Guinea is a Muslim country, most of the holidays there are of an appropriate religious nature (Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha). However, each Guinean village can have its own holidays, which are always celebrated very colorfully and magnificently.

Kitchen

The main food products are rice, cassava, yams, corn, meat (chicken), fish and seafood, fruits. Chopped hot peppers are served with many dishes. The inhabitants of this country very often make stews from a variety of ingredients. In general, French and Lebanese culinary traditions have had a noticeable influence on Guinean cuisine.

Traditional soft drinks are fruit juices.

The traditional alcoholic drink is West African beer brands.

Attractions

Conakry, the capital of Guinea, is famous for its Botanical Garden, Cathedral (1930s), National Museum, People's Palace and Moorish villas. In the suburbs of the capital there are Kakimbon caves, which are associated with many legends and legends. For the Baga people, these caves are sacred.

In Faran, the main attractions are the Grand Mosque, restaurants, cafes, markets and villas. In general, Faranah is the beginning of sightseeing tours along the Niger River to the rapids of Fuyama and the Bafara waterfall. This whole territory is sacred for many local peoples, so it is better to travel there with a guide.

Approximately 220 km northeast of Conakry is the Phuta Jallon Plateau, famous for its picturesque hills. The area is ideal for hiking.

There are no national parks in Guinea, but wildlife is best viewed in the northeast near the border with Mali, on the Phuta Jallon Plateau and in the southeast.

Cities and resorts

The largest cities are Conakry (more than 2.2 million people), Nzerekore (more than 200 thousand people), Kindia (about 200 thousand people), Boke (more than 160 thousand people).

The local beaches are very beautiful, untouched with mangrove forests. The most famous beach is Bel Air, near Conakry. Near the village of Sabolan, there is also a very beautiful beach, where you can even live in huts on the ocean, paying a small amount for this to the locals.

The islands near the border with Guinea-Bissau are not only a secluded exotic place for a beach holiday, but there is also an amazing natural world with turtles and a large population of various birds.

The infrastructure of a beach holiday is not developed, but this is fully compensated by the beautiful Atlantic Ocean, nature and local color.

Souvenirs/Shopping

As souvenirs, handicrafts, wood products, traditional local fabrics, clothes, leather rugs, calabash, and jewelry are brought.

Office Hours

Area, sq. km 245857
Flag
Population, people 11176026 (2013)
Capital Conakry
Big cities Conakry, Nzerekore, Kindia
date of independence October 2, 1958
highest point Nimba (1752 m)
Official language French
Religion Islam (Sunni)
Currency unit Guinean franc
Political system presidential republic
Telephone code +224
Domain zone .gn

Guinea is an African state located in the west of the continent. Neighbor states: Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Mali.

In the 19th century, Guinea was under the influence of France, which controlled almost the entire territory of West Africa. A protectorate was created, banana and coffee plantations were planted. However, the French faced a strong opposition. The national liberation movement flared up, led by Sekou Turve. "Better poverty in freedom than wealth in slavery," said A. Sekou Toure, who became the first president of independent Guinea in 1958. The population of Guinea fought for complete liberation from the French, being ardent supporters of the theory of pan-Africanism. As a result, on October 2, 1958, Guinea gained its long-awaited independence. The official language is French.

Guinea is inhabited by ethnic groups, speakers of the Mande and Fulbe language groups. They have little in common, but ethnographically they open up a wide field for research. The Mande peoples are farmers, the Fulbe peoples are pastoralists. The largest ethnic group are the Fula, who live on the arid central plateau. Malinke live in the savannah of Upper Guinea, while Susu live in marshy coastal areas. Forested mountains are located in the southeast of Guinea.

The majority of Guineans are Muslims, a small number of the population adheres to traditional beliefs and rituals.

The financial situation of Guinea remains difficult, despite the huge reserves of bauxite and diamonds that lie in the bowels of the country. Guinea has many natural resources. The mining industry is very developed. Bauxites, diamonds, gold, black and non-ferrous ores are mined here. Thanks to the vast water reserves, the hydropower industry is also developed. The economy is agrarian in nature, as agriculture remains the main activity. Moreover, the economy is often focused not on commodity, but on subsistence farming. Over 70% of the population is employed in the rural economy. Grow bananas, corn, cassava, rice, cocoa. More than half of the territory of the state is occupied by forests.

Guinea has a military form of government. The economy is controlled by the government. The President is the head of state and government.

The nature of this region is very picturesque due to the contrasts. Either vast arid lands stretch before you, or impenetrable evergreen jungles. The heights of Futa - Dzhallon (over 1500 m) attract the attention of tourists. The Bafar waterfall further decorates this plateau, perfect in the natural sense. Ile - de - Los - a group of islands in the Atlantic, not far from the mainland, designed for sophisticated tourists. It has all the conditions for a great holiday, including cruises. The richness of biological species adorns the already outlandish picture of the unique African landscape.

Friendly hospitable people and a pleasant climate will complement the dignity of Guinea.

History of Guinea

  • XV century: the territory of Guinea was part of the early state formations of Ghana and Mali.
  • 18th century: in the center of the countries, a military-theocratic state of the cattle-breeding tribes of the Fulbe Futa Dzhallon was formed.
  • Second half of the 19th century: France took over the country. The Europeans carried on a predatory slave trade, especially in the coastal regions.
  • 1889-1893: Guinea is declared a French colony, in 1895 it is separated into a separate colony called French Guinea.
  • 1958: Guinea gained independence. President Sekou Toure established an authoritarian regime.
  • 1979-1984: The country was called the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea.
  • 1984: after the death of C. Touré, the military came to power.
  • 1990: A new constitution ends the military regime. Establishment of a multiparty system.

The territory of modern Guinea has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, the territory of modern Guinea was part of various African states. Then Europeans began to arrive here, and by the 17th century they were already selling Guineans into slavery on American plantations. From 1891 to 1958 Guinea was a French colony. Sekou Toure's government failed to improve the standard of living of the population, and after his death, in 1984, power passed to the military government, headed by Colonel Lansana Conte. The first multi-party elections, held in Guinea in 1993, were again won by the Conte government.

Interesting facts about Guinea:

  • In Guinea, colossal reserves of fresh water in West Africa are concentrated in the form of the Niger River.
  • Guinea is the world's largest supplier of bauxite.
  • Sekou Toure was the man who ruled Guinea from 1958 to 1984.

A small state in West Africa, with access to the Atlantic Ocean in the west of the country. The coastline is about 320 kilometers long. Borders: in the east - Ivory Coast, in the south - Liberia and Sierra Leone, in the north - Guinea-Besau, Senegal and Mali. The main rivers of the country are the Gambia, Bafing and Niger. The total area of ​​the state is about 246 thousand square kilometers.

The population is about 10.2 million people (as of July 2008). Ethnic composition: Fulbe - about 40%, Malinka - 30%, Susu - 15% and other nationalities. Large cities are the capital of Conakry (about 1,600,000 people), Nzerekore, Kankan and Kindia. The official language is French. Eight tribal languages ​​have also been declared national: Fulfulde, Malinke, Susu, Kisi, Loma, Kpele, Baga, Kona. Religion - Muslims - 75%, Christians - about 1.5%, the rest are adherents of local beliefs (pagans). The national currency is the Guinean franc. The state structure is a presidential republic. The head of state is the president, who is also the head of government. Elected for 5 years. The next elections are to be held in 2008. The legislative branch is the National Assembly. Administratively, the country is divided into 7 provinces and 33 prefectures. The capital of the state is equated to the province.

The colonization of the country began at the end of the 19th century. Settlers from France were the first to set foot on the land - since 1891 it was a colony of France, and since 1904 it was part of the federation of French West Africa. As a result of a referendum in 1958, the state gained independence. A. Sekou Toure was elected president of the country, pursuing a very tough policy of total socialization of property, and after his death in 1984, as a result of a military coup, Lansan Conte came to power, who began to cooperate more with developed European countries.

Since the beginning of the 90s, elections have been regularly held in the country, in which the same Conte won three times. The confrontation and protests of the opposition were severely suppressed. The economic situation in the country worsened, which led in 2007 to mass demonstrations of the population demanding the resignation of the government. The post of prime minister has now been handed over to Ahmed Thidiana Suare pending elections to be held in 2008.

The State of Guinea has been a member of the UN since 1958. It has also been a member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor, the African Union (AU). In addition, the country is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), the Union of the States of the Mano River Basin (CHM).

In economic terms, the country is ahead of many neighbors, as it is rich in minerals. In terms of bauxite reserves, Guinea ranks first in the world. In addition, gold, diamonds, ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores, and zircon are mined. But, despite the fact that the country has large mineral and hydropower resources, on the whole, Guinea is an economically underdeveloped country. Almost 75 percent of the population works in agriculture. Main crops: rice, coffee, pineapples, tapioca, bananas. Cattle breeding is developed. Guinea exports: bauxite, aluminum, gold, diamonds, bananas, coffee and fish.

The climate of the country is equatorial monsoon. Summer is wet, winter is dry. The hottest month is April (+30 C), the coldest month is August (+26 C). Precipitation falls mainly in summer, and is distributed unevenly across the country: on the coast for 170 rainy days a year, up to 4300 mm falls, and in the interior of the country no more than 1500 mm. In January-February, "harmattan" blows from the Sahara desert.

About 60 percent of the country's territory is occupied by forests, but most of them are secondary sparse deciduous trees. Moist evergreen forests are little preserved. You can meet them only on the windward slopes of the North Guinea Upland. There are gallery forests along the river valleys. Somewhere there are mangroves. The fauna of the forests, previously very diverse, is now preserved only in protected areas. Here you can meet hippos, genets, civets and forest duikers. Man almost completely exterminated elephants, leopards and chimpanzees.

There is a lot to see in Guinea. The National Museum of the Capital has a large collection of masks, sculptures and national instruments. The style of the building is designed in imitation of the Louvre in Paris. You should also pay attention to the People's Palace in the northern part of Roux du Niger. Traditionally, performances of ballet theaters and all the numerous festive ceremonies take place here.

Futa-Dzhallon Plateau, Bafara waterfall and Fuyama rapids - for lovers of eco-tourism. Kankan is the spiritual and political center of the Malinke people. The city is replete with historical sights, but the tourist will need the services of a guide. Separately, it is worth noting the Grand Mosque, as well as the presidential palace on the banks of the Milo River, sculpture workshops and two beautiful markets - open and closed.

The content of the article

GUINEA, Republic of Guinea. State in West Africa. The capital is the city of Conakry (1.77 million people - 2003). Territory- 245.9 thousand sq. km. Administrative-territorial division- 8 provinces. Population– 9.69 million people (2006, estimate). Official language- French. Religion- Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. Currency unit- Guinean franc. National holiday- October 2, Independence Day (1958). Guinea has been a member of the UN since 1958, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor, the African Union (AU). Member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) since 1969, the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), the Union of the States of the Mano River Basin (CHM) since 1980.

Geographic location and boundaries.

Continental State. It borders Guinea-Bissau in the northwest, Senegal in the north, Mali in the north and northeast, Ivory Coast in the east, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the south. The western part of the country is washed by waters of the Atlantic Ocean.The length of the coastline is 320 km.

Nature.

The territory of Guinea is divided into four physiographic regions. The first of them, located in the west of the country, - Lower, or Primorskaya, Guinea - is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights less than 150 m above sea level. The swampy strip of the coast is covered with mangroves, dense rocks come to the surface only in the Conakry region. Lower Guinea is an area of ​​commodity-export agriculture. Mostly representatives of the Susu people live here. The Kogon, Fatala and Konkure rivers cutting through the lowlands originate in the deep valleys of the second region - Central Guinea. Here, the Futa Jallon sandstone massif, with peaks of 1200–1400 m, crosses the country from north to south. The highest point of the plateau, located north of Labe, is Mount Tamge (1538 m). Central Guinea is characterized by the predominance of savannah landscapes, in the highest places there are mountain meadows. The area is inhabited by the Fulbe people. The predominant occupation of the population is animal husbandry.

To the east of the Futa-Jallon massif, on the plains in the basin of the upper reaches of the Niger River, lies Upper Guinea. This is an area of ​​savannas inhabited mainly by malinque farmers.

Forest Guinea, located in the southeast of the country, occupies part of the North Guinean Upland with small massifs of remnant mountains. Here, near the border with Liberia in the Nimba mountains, is the highest point of Guinea (1752 m). In this area, the background is savannas, in some areas, especially along the river valleys, tropical forests have been preserved. In Forest Guinea, there are many small peoples who are engaged in agriculture.

The climate of Guinea is characterized by a pronounced contrast between the wet season, which lasts from May to October (and on the coast - longer than on the plains of the northeast) and the dry season, when a hot wind blows from the northeast - harmatan. With the exception of its northernmost part, the coastal lowland is reliably protected by mountains from dry winds. Moist southwesterly winds bring heavy rainfall that falls on the western slopes of the mountains. The Conakry region is characterized by an average annual rainfall of 4300 mm, of which 4000 mm falls during the wet season. In the interior, an average of 1300 mm falls annually. High temperatures prevail throughout the year, rarely falling below 15°C, and sometimes reaching 38°C.

The Futa-Jallon massif is characterized by the highest population density, where cattle, sheep and goats graze in the mountain meadows of the Fulbe, and various agricultural crops are grown in the fertile valleys. Of export importance is coffee, which is produced in Central and Upper Guinea, as well as bananas grown in the coastal lowlands and in the valleys near the railway. In a number of coastal areas, mangroves have been cleared for rice fields.

Minerals– diamonds, aluminum, bauxites, granite, graphite, iron, gold, limestone, cobalt, manganese, copper, nickel, pyrite, platinum, lead, titanium, chromium, zinc, etc.

Dense branched river network (Bafing, Kogon, Konkure, Tomine, Fatala, Forekarya, etc.). On the territory of Guinea, the rivers Niger (one of the largest in Africa) and the Gambia originate.

Population.

Malinke live in the interior of the country, mainly in the Niger basin, Susu (presumably the most ancient inhabitants of the savannas) - on the coast, including the strip between Conakry and Kindia. The main occupation of the Mande-speaking peoples, who make up about half of the country's population, is agriculture. The warlike cattle-breeders of the Fulbe, who appeared in these places in the 16th century, inhabit mainly the central part of the country - the Futa-Jallon massif. A number of small ethnic groups are distributed along the coast, on the western slopes of the Phuta Djallon plateau and in Forest Guinea. The old enmity between the Mande-speaking rural population and the Fulbe conquering pastoralists, which has now taken the form of rivalry for political hegemony in the country, has not been eliminated.

Approximately 90% of Guineans are Muslims. Most of the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs and cults. Although the first Christian missions were established in present-day Guinea in the 19th century, the number of Christians is negligible.

The average population density is 34 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Its average annual growth is 2.63%. Birth rate - 41.76 per 1000 people, mortality - 15.48 per 1000 people. Child mortality is 90 per 1000 newborns. 44.4% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 3.2%. The median age of the population is 17.7 years. Fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) - 5.79. Life expectancy - 49.5 years (men - 48.34, women - 50.7). (All figures are given in estimates for 2006).

Guinea is a multi-ethnic state. The African population is over 97%, there are approx. 30 nationalities and ethnic groups. The largest of these are Fulbe (40%), Malinke (30%) and Susu (20%) - 2002. Their languages ​​are the most widely spoken of the local languages. OK. 7% of the population are Baga, Basari, Dialonke, Kisi, Kpelle (or Gerze), Landum, Mikifore, Nalu, Tiapi, etc. Approx. 3% of the population are Europeans, Lebanese, Moors and Syrians.

The rural population is over 70% (2004). Large cities (in thousand people, 2003) are Nzerekore (120.1), Kankan (112.2) and Kindia (106.3). Guinean labor migrants and refugees are in Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia and other African and European countries. There are refugees from Sierra Leone in Guinea.

Religions.

According to estimates, 85% of the country's population are Muslims, 8% are Christians (the majority are Catholics), 7% of Guineans adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.) - 2003.

The first Muslims on the territory of modern Guinea appeared in the 12th century. The massive penetration of Islam began in the 15th-16th centuries. AD from the territory of modern Mauritania and other countries of the Maghreb. Islam of the Sunni () direction of the Maliki persuasion is widespread. The Sufi orders (tarikats) Tijaniya, Qadiriyya, Barkhayya (or Barkiya) and Shadiliyya ( cm. SUFISM). Christianity began to spread in the beginning. 19th century The first Christian missionaries (mostly members of monastic Catholic orders from France) appeared in the country at the end. 19th century

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State device.

Guinea is a republic. The constitution adopted on December 23, 1991, as amended in November 2001, is in force. The head of state is the president, who, according to this amendment, is elected by universal secret ballot for a 7-year term. The President can be elected to this post more than once. Legislative power is exercised by a unicameral parliament (National Assembly), which consists of 114 deputies elected by popular vote for 5 years. 1/3 of the Parliament is elected from single-member constituencies, and 2/3 - on the basis of proportional representation.

The President is Conte Lansana. Elected December 21, 2003. Previously elected in 1993 and 1998. Has been president since April 5, 1984.

State flag. A rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size - red (at the pole), yellow and green.

administrative device.

The country is divided into 8 provinces, which consist of 34 prefectures.

Judicial system.

Based on the French civil law system. There are the Supreme Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the State Security Court and the Magistrates' Courts.

Armed Forces and Defense.

The national armed forces were created on the basis of the units that were part of the colonial army. In the beginning. In 2005, their number (ground forces, air force and navy) amounted to 20 thousand people. Service in the army (2 years) is carried out on a mandatory basis. In November 2005, mass layoffs were carried out (about 2 thousand people) from the army of officers, incl. and generals. Defense spending in 2005 was $119.7 million (2.9% of GDP).

Foreign policy.

It is based on the policy of non-alignment. Guinea maintains good neighborly relations with Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, including within the framework of the Organization for the Efficient Use of the Gambia's Resources. Takes part in solving regional problems in Africa, incl. conflict resolution in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Guinea were established on October 4, 1958. The Soviet Union assisted Guinea in the construction of industrial facilities, the creation of scientific research centers, and the training of national personnel. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. In 1990 - early. In the 2000s, intergovernmental contacts continued to develop (including in 2001, President Conte paid an official visit to Moscow), as well as relations in the field of military-technical cooperation, the economy and the training of national personnel for Guinea. Some Russian firms are active in the Guinean market (in May 2006, Russian Aluminum bought the Frigia bauxite mining complex, located 150 km from the capital).

political organizations.

The country has a multi-party system. The most influential of the political parties:

– « Unity and Progress Party», PEP(Parti de l "unité et du progrès, PUP), leader - Conte Lansana (Lansana Conté), acting general secretary - Sekou Konaté. Ruling party, founded in 1992;

– « Union for Progress and Renewal», SPO(Union pour le progrès et le renouveau, UPR), chaired by Ousmane Bah. The party was created in September 1998 as a result of the merger of the "Party of Renewal and Progress" and the "Union for a New Republic";

– « Unification of the Guinean people», OGN(Rassemblement populaire guinéen, RPG), led by Alpha Condé and Ahmed Tidiane Cissé. Party of the main in 1992.

trade union associations.

"National Confederation of Workers of Guinea", CNTG (Confédération nationale des travailleurs de Guinée, CNTG). Established in 1984. The General Secretary is Mohamed Samba Kébé.

ECONOMY

Guinea belongs to the group of the poorest countries in the world. The basis of the economy is the agricultural sector. OK. 40% of the population is below the poverty line (2003).

Labor resources.

In 2001, the economically active population of the country amounted to 4.1 million people, of which 3.43 million people were employed in agriculture.

Agriculture.

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 23.7% (2005). 4.47% of the land is cultivated (2005). The main cash crops are pineapples, peanuts, bananas, coffee, oilseeds and citrus fruits. Sweet potato, legumes, corn, mango, cassava, vegetables, rice, sugarcane, fonio (millet) and yams are also grown. Animal husbandry (breeding of goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) and poultry farming are developing. Agriculture is conducted by backward methods with poor technical equipment. It does not fully provide the population with food. In forestry, wood is harvested (including valuable varieties) and sawn timber is produced. The export of raw timber is prohibited. Fishing is carried out in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and rivers. The catch of fish (mullet, mackerel, stingray, sardinella, etc.) and seafood in 2000 was 91.5 thousand tons.

Industry.

Its share in GDP is 36.2% (2005). The main and most dynamically developing industry is the mining industry, which provides up to 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Bauxites (30% of the world's proven reserves), aluminum ore (average annual production averages 2.2 million tons), gold, diamonds, iron and granite are being commercially mined. The manufacturing industry is poorly developed, there are factories and factories for processing fish, producing flour, palm oil, etc.

International trade.

The volume of imports exceeds the volume of exports: in 2005, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 680 million, exports - 612.1 million. The basis of imports are oil products, metal, machinery, vehicles, textiles, grain and food. The main import partners are Côte d'Ivoire (15.1%), France (8.7%), Belgium and China (5.9% each) and South Africa (4.6%) - 2004. Main export commodities - aluminum, bauxite (Guinea is one of the world's largest exporters of them), gold, diamonds, coffee, fish.The main export partners are France (17.7%), Belgium and the UK (14.7% each), Switzerland (12 .8%) and Ukraine (4.2%) - 2004.

Energy.

The energy system of the country is underdeveloped, the demand for electricity is noticeably ahead of the supply. Guinea has significant hydropower potential. Electricity production in 2003 amounted to 775 million kilowatt-hours.

Transport.

Transport infrastructure is poorly developed. The functioning of the roads is complicated by frequent tropical downpours. The first railway was built in 1910. The total length of railways is 837 km (2004). The total length of roads is 44.3 thousand km (4.3 thousand km have hard surface) - 2003. The merchant fleet has 35 ships (2002). The seaports of Kamsar and Conakry are of international importance. The length of river waterways is 1300 km. There are 16 airports and runways (5 of them are paved) - 2005. Gbessia International Airport is located in Conakry.

Finance and credit.

The monetary unit is the Guinean franc (GNF), which is divided into 100 centimes. The national currency was put into circulation on March 1, 1960. In December 2005, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 2,550 GNF.

Tourism.

Foreign tourists are attracted by the beauty of natural landscapes, historical and architectural monuments, and the original culture of local peoples. In 2000, 32.6 thousand foreign tourists from France (more than 7 thousand), Senegal, Belgium and others visited Guinea. Tourism income in 2002 amounted to 12 million US dollars (in 1998 - 1 million US dollars) .

Attractions - The National Museum in the capital, mosques in the cities of Kankan and Farana, the picturesque Bafara waterfall, etc. Many Russian travel agencies provide the opportunity to visit Guinea.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

In the pre-colonial period, an extensive network of Muslim (Quranic) schools existed on the territory of the country. Already in con. 17th century centers of Muslim education were formed in the cities of Kankan and Tubu. The first European-style schools are open in con. 19th century in Christian missions.

Compulsory is a 6-year education, which children begin to receive at the age of seven. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 13 and takes place in two stages (the first is a four-year study at a college, the second is a three-year study at a lyceum). According to the UNESCO World Human Development Report 2003, Guinea is among the countries with the lowest rate of girls' access to primary and secondary education.

The higher education system includes two universities (in the cities of Conakry and Kankan) and institutes located in the cities of Boke and Faranah. In 2002, at the University of Conakry (founded in 1962), 824 teachers worked at four faculties and 5 thousand students studied; . Several research centers operate, incl. Guinea Pasteur Institute and National Institute for Scientific Research and Documentation. In the beginning. 2000s were literate approx. 35.9% of the population (49.9% men and 21.9% women).

Healthcare.

Architecture.

The main type of traditional dwelling is a round (6–10 m in diameter) hut with a cone-shaped thatched roof. In different parts of the country, these huts are distinguished by the material used in the construction of their walls: the so-called. “banco” (a building material made from a mixture of clay and straw), wattle covered with clay, stakes driven into the ground or bamboo mats suspended from a wooden frame. The houses of urban dwellers are mainly rectangular buildings under a flat roof and with a kind of terrace. A special type of architecture is the construction of mosques. The business districts of modern cities are built up with multi-storey buildings made of brick, reinforced concrete structures and glass. Soviet specialists took part in the design and construction of some administrative and cultural facilities (radio center, the USSR embassy in Conakry, the Rogbane scientific center, etc.).

Fine Arts and Crafts.

The surviving objects of fine art (helmet-shaped nimbus masks, polychrome banda masks, round sculptures of the Baga and Temne peoples, etc.) of the peoples inhabiting the territory of modern Guinea date back to the 14th-15th centuries. Objects of ancient art of Guinea are presented in expositions and private collections of many museums in the world, incl. Hermitage and the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in St. Petersburg.

Professional visual arts began to develop after independence. Artists: D.Kadiatou, M.Conde, M.B.Kossa, Matinez Sirena, K.Nanuman, M.K.Fallo, M.Fills. Many of the national artists were educated in the USSR.

Crafts and arts and crafts are well developed - wood and ivory carving, metal processing (casting and chasing), pottery, production of popular prints, leather processing, weaving, jewelry art (including filigree work on gold and silver), and also weaving (making colorful baskets, fans, mats, etc.).

Literature.

Based on the traditions of oral art (myths, songs, proverbs and fairy tales) of local peoples. A large role in the preservation of the folklore tradition belongs to the griots (a caste of wandering actors, storytellers, musicians and singers in the countries of West Africa). In the pre-colonial period, only the Fulbe people had written literary monuments in the local language (large poems called “qasyds”).

Modern literature develops in French. One of the founders of national literature is the writer Kamara Lei. Other writers are William Sasein, Tierno Monemembo, A. Fanture, Emil Sise. Many works of Guinean writers were published in France. Famous Guinean poets are Lunsaini Kaba, Nene Khali and Rai Otra.

Music and theatre.

The national musical culture is diverse, formed as a result of the interaction of the traditions of numerous local peoples. Professional musical art (the creation of palace orchestras at the courts of African rulers) developed in the Middle Ages. The musical culture of Guinea was greatly influenced by Arabic music.

Playing musical instruments, songs and dances are an inseparable part of the national culture. Rich musical traditions in Guinea have been preserved and continue to develop today. The musical art of the griots has been preserved, which accompany themselves mainly on the bark (string instrument). The musical instrumentation is diverse: drums (from small tamaru to giant dung-dun - bote, droma, dundumba, tamani, etc.), balafons, castanets, rattles (lala, sistrum vasama), dudaru horn, rattles, flutes (serdu, hula ). There are many stringed instruments: harps (baleil, haububataken), bolen (musical bow), keperu (violin), kerona, keronara (guitar), condival, horses, bark, molar. Orchestral performance of music is popular. The first national orchestra was created in 1959.

Solo and choral singing is widespread. Epic tales and laudatory songs are popular. Famous singers and musicians are Ahmed Traore, M.Vandel, M.Kuyate, Mamamu Kamara, Sori Kandia Kuyate. In 2004, the Guinean kora virtuoso Ba Sissoko (his compositions are a symbiosis of traditional African motifs and modern rhythms) became one of the finalists of the international competition called "Music of the World" (since 1981 with the aim of promoting the development of national music in Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean zone is conducted by Radio France International).

Elements of the theater were present in numerous ceremonies and rituals that were performed on various holidays. In 1948 an ensemble of African music and dance was created under the name Balle Afriken; after independence, he repeatedly performed on tour in Asia, America and Europe (in 1961 - in the USSR). The professional ballet ensemble "Joliba" performed in the Soviet Union in 1966 and 1971. The French school of William Ponty in Dakar (Senegal) had a great influence on the formation of national theatrical art, in which many Guinean actors, playwrights and directors were trained in the 1930s. One of the first Guinean playwrights is Emile Cisse.

Cinema.

The production of documentaries began in the first half of the 1960s. One of the first documentaries Revolution in action(1966, director A. Aksana), eight and twenty(1967, directed by D. Costa), And freedom came(1969, directed by Sekou Umar Barry). First feature films Black skin(1967) and Yesterday Today Tomorrow(1968), were filmed by director D. Costa. The first feature film was Sergeant Bakary Woolen(1968, directed by Mohammed Lamin Akin). Other film directors are Alfa Bald, A.Dabo, K.Diana, M.Ture. The USSR provided active assistance in the training of national personnel. Since 1968, filmmakers from Guinea have actively participated in international film festivals in Asia and Africa, which were held in Tashkent. Weeks of Guinean cinema were held in Moscow in 1970 and 1973. Until 1992, weeks of Soviet cinema were regularly held in Guinea, later screenings of works by Russian filmmakers were held.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.

Published in French:

- daily government newspaper "Horoya" (Horoya, translated from the Susu language - "Dignity");

- Government Gazette "Journal officiel de Guinée" (Guinean Official Gazette), published twice a month;

- Monthly magazine "Fonike" (Fonikee).

The Guinea Press Agency, AGP (Agence guinéenne de presse, AGP) has been operating since 1960 and is located in Conakry. The government's "Guinean Broadcasting and Television Service" (Radiodiffusion-télévision guinéenne, RTG) is also located in the capital. National television has been operating since May 1977. Radio and television programs are broadcast in French, English, Arabic and Portuguese, as well as in some local languages. In 2005, there were 46,000 Internet users in Guinea.

HISTORY

In the 10th-11th centuries. most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. The mines near Sigiri probably produced some of Ghana's gold, which was exchanged in the cities of the Sahel for salt and other goods from North Africa. In the 12th century The empire of Ghana collapsed, and in the 13th century. in its place, the empire of Mali arose, created by the Malinke people. Islam spread widely among the nobility and townspeople. Until the beginning of the 16th century. Mali remained a powerful force in the region. Later, a significant part of the territory of Mali was captured by the Songhai empire of Gao in the east and the state of Tekrur, created by the Fulani, in the west. In the middle of the 17th century. The Bambara of Segou overthrew the Malinque Emperor.

By that time, the center of trade had moved to the coast, where intense competition between Portuguese, English and French slave traders unfolded. However, in this part of the West African coast, the slave trade was less widespread than on the coast of Nigeria, Dahomey and Senegal. After the official ban on the slave trade in the early 19th century. the coastal regions of present-day Guinea continued to attract human traffickers, as the heavily indented coastline provided safe hiding places for slave ships hunted by British warships. In the middle of the 19th century The slave trade was replaced by trade in peanuts, palm oil, hides and rubber. European merchants settled in several trading posts and paid tribute to the leaders of local tribes. The attempts of the leaders to increase the size of the tribute ended with the fact that in 1849 France established its protectorate over the Boke region.

At the beginning of the 18th century on the territory of the Futa-Jallon plateau, a powerful state of the Fulbe arose. Islam became his state religion, which then spread among the inhabitants of the coastal regions, many of whom paid tribute to the Fulbe leaders. Further development of European trade and the creation of new strongholds on the coast in the middle of the 19th century. led to friction between the French and the Fulani leaders, who in 1861 were persuaded to recognize the French protectorate over Boke. A few years earlier, Haj Omar, a militant religious reformer from eastern Senegal, settled in Fouta Djallon. By 1848, his popularity among the local population had grown so much that it began to cause concern among the leaders of the Fulbe. Hajj Omar was forced to move to Dingirai, where he declared jihad (holy war) on the territory of Western Sudan, primarily the kingdoms of Segu and Masina. In 1864, in a battle with the soldiers of Masina, Haj Omar died, and his son Ahmadu took his place. In 1881, he concluded an agreement with the French, according to which the territory along the left bank of the Niger up to Timbuktu came under the protectorate of France. Later, Ahmadu tried to renounce this treaty, but in 1891-1893 he was removed from power by the French.

The longest and most decisive resistance to the French colonialists was provided by Samori Touré. Malinka by ethnicity, he captured Kankan in 1879 and created a Muslim state southeast of Sigiri. In 1887 and 1890, the French concluded treaties of friendship with Samory, but then denounced them, and hostilities resumed. In 1898, the French captured Samory Touré near Man in the west of modern Côte d'Ivoire and sent him into exile, where he died. First World War.

In 1895, Guinea was included in French West Africa, and in 1904, after the British handed over the Los Islands to the French, the borders of the colony were established. During the period of French colonial rule, the Guineans were deprived of elementary political rights, paid a poll tax, they were mobilized for unpaid forced labor and military service.

In 1946, France agreed to create an elected territorial assembly in Guinea and gradually softened the property and educational qualifications for voting. In 1957, the entire adult population of the colony could participate in the elections, and the Government Council was created - a territorial body of executive power, consisting of Guineans.

The influence of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), a grassroots political organization led by trade unionist Sekou Toure, grew rapidly. Thanks to the propaganda work of party activists in 1958, almost the entire population of Guinea voted in a referendum against the new French constitution and for the country's withdrawal from the French Community. As a result, Guinea gained independence on October 2, 1958.

The choice of the Guineans in favor of independence resulted in the loss of French economic assistance and investment, a guaranteed market for export products and technical assistance from qualified specialists. The urgent need for economic and technical assistance forced the new government to turn to the USSR and China for help, which led to even greater isolation of Guinea from France and its allies. In 1965, Guinea severed diplomatic relations with France, accusing her of participating in a conspiracy to overthrow the Guinean government. By the end of the 1960s, Guinea had established relations with a number of Western states, which was largely due to the interest of the country's leadership in foreign investment. However, the nationalization of trade and the agricultural sector resulted in stagnation in all sectors of the Guinean economy, except for mining. Although Sekou Toure himself retained his authority among the population, the government's course became less and less popular, and many thousands of Guineans emigrated.

In November 1970, Guinean emigrants, who were in opposition to the Sekou Toure regime, took part in an armed invasion of Guinea, which was organized with the support of Portugal. This action pursued two main goals: the overthrow of the Sekou Toure government and the defeat of the bases of the partisans who fought for the liberation of Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau). The rebels were quickly defeated. After the failed attempt at aggression, mass purges were carried out in the state apparatus and the armed forces of Guinea. In August 1977, a wave of riots swept through the cities, during which several provincial governors appointed by the DPG were killed. After these events, the policy of the Guinean leadership changed dramatically. In the late 1970s, political repression eased, the masses were given the opportunity to participate in public life, and private trade was allowed. Guinea's relations with neighboring African states and Western countries have improved. In 1976 diplomatic relations with France were restored.

Sekou Toure died on March 26, 1984, and already on April 3, 1984, a group of military personnel led by Colonel Lansana Conte carried out a bloodless coup. The military authorities disbanded the DPD and released all political prisoners. The economic reforms of the Conte regime did not bring positive results. In 1991, a new constitution was adopted, providing for the creation of a transitional government, and then a multi-party republic. As a first step towards the transition to civilian rule, the activities of political parties were legalized. According to the results of the first multi-party elections in the history of the country, Conte was elected president in 1993. The parliamentary elections of 1995, accompanied by numerous clashes and acts of violence, were won by the Unity and Progress Party, headed by Conte.

In 1996, Conte appointed a new cabinet of ministers and introduced the post of prime minister, appointed by the president. Conte entrusted the government with the task of more vigorously pursuing an economic reform program that included cutting public spending, fighting corruption and improving the efficiency of the tax system.

In the presidential elections held on December 14, 1998, Conte again won (56.1% of the vote). 71.4% of voters participated in the elections. According to the results of the national referendum (November 2001), the term of office of the president of the country, starting from the 2003 elections, was extended to 7 years. In the parliamentary elections (June 30, 2002), a landslide victory (85 out of 114 seats in the National Assembly) was won by the presidential Unity and Progress Party (PEP). The Union for Progress and Renewal (SPO) won 20 seats.

Guinea in the 21st century

The opposition boycotted the presidential elections, which took place on December 21, 2003, and as a result, Conte was re-elected for a third term (95.63% of the vote). 86.1% of voters participated in the elections.

In 2004, mass demonstrations took place in major cities of the country, caused by a sharp increase in the price of rice, the staple food. The opposition accused the government of creating the most difficult economic situation in the country over the past five years. In January 2005, an attempted coup d'état was thwarted, and more than 100 people were arrested on charges of participating in a conspiracy.

GDP is 18.99 billion US dollars, its growth is 2%. Inflation rate - 25%, investment - 17.3% of GDP (data for 2005, estimate). The main financial donors are France, the World Bank and the European Union. In the beginning. In the 2000s, Japan provided significant financial assistance for the development of the agricultural sector of the Guinean economy.

In July 2005, the government implemented a number of political reforms: freedom of association of opposition parties was guaranteed, voter lists were revised, and an independent electoral commission was established. In the municipal elections held in December 2005, the ruling PEP won a landslide victory (gained a majority of votes in 31 out of 38 cities in the country). The last changes in the government were implemented on April 4, 2006. In March 2006, the health of President Conte, suffering from leukemia and diabetes, deteriorated sharply. December 22, 2008 Conte passed away. He ruled the country for 24 years, and two days after his death, a group of army conspirators, who proclaimed themselves the new government, completely captured the capital of the country. Due to the political crisis in the country, protest demonstrations began. All existing laws were repealed, the leader of the military junta Musa Dadis Kamara promised to hold elections in 2010. His intention to run for them caused massive protests in the country. The military junta - the National Council for Democracy and Development (NCDD) - refuses to negotiate peace with the opposition, demonstrations and speeches are dispersed with the use of military force - in September 2009 alone, more than 150 people were killed, many were injured and arrested.

Lyubov Prokopenko

Literature:

Firsov A.A. Republic of Guinea. M., "Knowledge", 1961
Recent history of Africa. M., "Science", 1968
Guinea. Directory. M., "Science", 1980
Mirimanov V.B. Art of Tropical Africa. M., "Art", 1986
Kalinina L.P. Guinea. Directory. M., "Science", 1994
Arulpragasam, J., and Sahn, D.E. Economic Transition in Guinea: Implications for Growth and Poverty. New York, New York University Press, 1997
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd Edition. L.-N.Y., Europa Publications, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara. 2004. L.-N.Y., Europa Publications, 2003
African countries and Russia. Directory. M., Publishing House of the Institute for African Studies RAS, 2004



(Republic of Guinea)

General information

Geographical position. Guinea is a state in West Africa. In the north it borders on Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, in the east and southeast, on Ivory Coast, in the south, on Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the west, it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

Area. The territory of the Republic of Guinea occupies 245,857 sq. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of the Republic of Guinea is Conakry. The largest cities: Conakry (1,508 thousand people), Kankan (278 thousand people), Labe (273 thousand people), Nzerekore (250 thousand people). Administrative-territorial division of the country: 8 provinces.

Political system. Guinea is a republic. The head of state is the president, the head of government is the prime minister.

Relief. Guinea has four main topographic regions: lower Guinea, a coastal plain stretching 275 km long and 50 km wide; middle Guinea (Futa-Jalon) - a mountainous plateau up to 910 m high; upper Guinea-savanna with low hills up to 300 m in height; lower Guinea is a mountainous part of the country where the Nimba ridge is located (the highest point in the country is 1,752 m).

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain reserves of bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds, and uranium.

Climate. The climate of Guinea is different in different topographical zones. In the coastal strip, the average annual temperature is about + 27 ° С, in Futa-Jalon - about + 20 ° С, in upper Guinea + 21 ° С. The rainy season lasts from April or May to October or November. The hottest month of the year is April, the rainiest is July or August.

Inland waters. The main rivers are Bafing and Gambia, in Guinea the Niger and Milo rivers also originate.

Soils and vegetation. The vegetation of Guinea is quite diverse: from dense mangrove forests along the ocean coast to the savannah of upper Guinea and the dense jungle of lower Guinea.

Animal world. The fauna is represented by leopards, hippos, wild boars, antelopes. The country has a large number of snakes and crocodiles, as well as parrots and turaco (banano-eaters).

Population and language

The population of the Republic of Guinea is about 7.477 million people, the average

population density of about 30 people per 1 sq. km. km. Ethnic groups: Fulani_

35%, Malinke 30%, Susu 20%, other tribes 15%. Languages: French (state), Malinke, Susu, Fulani, Kisi, Basari, Loma, Koniagi, Kpele.

Religion

Muslims - 85%, Christians - 8%, pagans - 7%.

Brief historical outline

The northern and eastern parts of the territory of modern Guinea were once part of the empires of Mali and Songhai. In the XVIII century. a theocratic Islamic state was established. In 1891 Guinea became a colony of France, in 1906 - part of French West Africa. On October 2, 1958, the Republic of Guinea declared independence. In March 1984, the military came to power in a bloodless military coup.

Brief economic essay

Guinea is an agricultural country with a relatively developed mining industry. Main cash crops: coffee, bananas, pineapples, oil palm. Livestock. Fishing. Extraction of bauxites, diamonds, gold. Enterprises for the processing of agricultural products; sawmills, textile, bicycle assembly. Export: bauxites, alumina, diamonds, gold, agricultural products.

The monetary unit is the Guinean franc.

Art and architecture. Conakry. National Museum with a rich collection of exhibits.