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Guinea flag Guinea
Guinea
Quick Facts
Region:
Africa
Full Name:
Republic of Guinea
Capital City:
Conakry
Language Spoken:
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Personnel risk: MODERATE
Evacuation risk: LOW
Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies. In 2006, declining economic conditions prompted two massive strikes that sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.