Independence Year : 1958
Population : 7430000
Life Expectancy : 45.6
Capital : 926
GNP : 2352.00
GNP Old : 2383.00
Local Name : Guinée
Government Form : Republic
Location : Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone.
Terrain : Generally flat along the coast and mountainous in the interior. The country's four geographic regions include a narrow coastal belt; pastoral highlands (the source of West Africa's major rivers); the northern savanna; and the southeastern rain forest.
Climate : Tropical. Generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds.
Ethnic Group : Fulani 40.3%; Malinke 25.8%; Susu 11.0%; Kissi 6.5%; Kpelle 4.8%, other ethnic groups 11.6%.
Religions : Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, traditional beliefs 7%.
Official Website :
www.guineafowlinternational.org
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General Information - Guinea
Background
Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.
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. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)
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