Guinea
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 in disputed balloting. Security clampdowns continue, although not as severe as in earlier decades. Reelected in 1998, the president faced growing criticism in 1999 for his jailing of a major opposition leader and widespread economic malaise. Unrest in Sierra Leone also continued to threaten Guinea's stability.
While there are no known specific threats against expatriate travelers or residents in Guinea, the country has experienced occasional civil unrest in Conakry, the capital, and in larger towns in all regions of the country. However, foreigners in general have not been targeted to date in any demonstration-related unrest.
A new constitution, known as the Third Republic (see below) was put to national referendum in December 1990 and accepted by a large majority despite some unrest caused by the slow pace of reform. Another three years passed before the first presidential elections under the new constitution were held in December 1993. Lansana Conté, who seized power in 1984, defeated seven other candidates taking over half the vote on the first round. Despite complaints of fraud, Conté was duly inaugurated at the end of January 1994. At the beginning of February 1996, Conté survived an attempted coup triggered by non-payment to troops, after which he assumed personal control of the country's armed forces and was re-elected in 1998.
In 2001, Conté launched a campaign for a third term as president requiring a national referendum to change the constitution. Opposition leaders vowed to stop the referendum, claiming it amounted to making Conté "president-for-life." The opposition alliance, CODEM also claims that the government started a crackdown in November 2001 with at least 10 of their supporters detained early this week by the army, but later released, badly injured and hospitalized. The November 11, 2001 referendum passed after the oppostion boycotted the vote.
Instability in neighboring countries can create tense situations in towns bordering Liberia and Sierra Leone. The borders between Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone are strictly controlled. Guinea, which almost encircles Sierra Leone, had already borne the brunt of the successive rounds of fighting next door. By autumn 2000 Guinea was home to about 500,000 refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, increasing the strain on its economy and generating suspicion and ethnic tension, amid mutual accusations of attempts at destabilization and border attacks. Improving conditions in both Sierra Leone and Liberia have relieved some of the pressure in the region, but reports that armed bandits in military style uniforms were robbing expatriate travelers in the country’s rural interior region have persisted.
Visitors should avoid travel in rural areas, especially after dark. If travel in rural areas is unavoidable, visitors should arrange to travel in groups or with escorts. The Guinean military attempts to strictly control Guinea’s borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone. Crossing other borders requires complete paperwork and visas and may be difficult.
