What countries does Guinea border with? Capital of Guinea

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.

Guinea

(Guinée, Guinea), state in the West. Africa on the Atlantic coast. Pl. 245.9 thousand km²; 8 provinces, capital Conakry; other major cities: Cancan , Kindia, Labe, Nzerekore. Since the 1st millennium AD. - as part of the Ghana Empire, in the 7th–13th centuries. – Mali (legendary ruler Sundyata Keita). The penetration of Europeans began in the 2nd half of the 15th century. Since 1904, Guinea has been part of French Western Africa ; since 1958 – independent Republic of Guinea headed by the President, the legislative body is the National. meeting. The shores are indented, along the coast there is a narrow strip of lowlands, from which the Futa Djallon plateau rises in ledges into the interior of the continent. To the SE. – North Guinean air.(Nimba town, 1752 m); on NE. – plain in bass. top. river flow Niger . Constantly humid and hot equatorial climate (even in the dry season, humidity in Conakry is 85%). There are many rivers, they are short, deep and rapids; Only the mouths of some are navigable. To the south and center. The areas have very sparse secondary forests; in the north there is savanna; on the coast there are areas of mangrove forests with palm trees (oilseed and raffia). Elephants, hippopotamuses, wild boars, leopards, cheetahs, many snakes, and crocodiles live there. Among insects there are spreaders of diseases (fever, malaria, “sleeping sickness”).
Population more than 7.6 million people. (2001): Fulani (35%), Malinka (30%), Susu (20%) and others, as well as Moors, French, Lebanese (mainly in the capital). Official language - French, but the more common languages ​​are Fulani, Malinke and Susu; 8 languages ​​have been declared national, and a writing system has been developed for them based on the Latin alphabet. 85% of the believing population are Muslims, 7% adhere to traditional animist beliefs; 8% are Christians. The most populated coastal lowland, center. h. (Futa Djallon) and bass. Upper Niger. Urban population 30% (1996). There are semi-nomads (especially among the Fulani). Sat down. The economy is backward and does not satisfy the food needs of the population. Coffee, tropical fruits (pineapples, bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, papaya, avocado, guava), palmista and cinchona are grown for export; for internal consumption includes rice, corn, millet, sorghum, cassava, and peanuts; There are plantations of cotton, tobacco, and tea. The livestock is semi-nomadic, unproductive; fish Extraction of bauxite, diamonds and iron. ore. Text, printing, woodworking, cement, metal-forming, food. industry Crafts: wood (red and black) and bone carving, straw weaving (bags, fans, mats), weaving, blacksmithing and pottery; production of art products made of leather, wood, metal, bone and stone; weaving from raffia fiber, making music. tools. Seaports: Conakry, Kamsar, Benti. In the capital of the international airport. Folk art festivals. Cash unit – Guinean franc.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

GUINEA

REPUBLIC OF GUINEA
State in West Africa. In the north it borders with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, in the east and southeast - with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south - with Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area of ​​the country, including the Conakry Islands, is 245857 km2. Guinea has four main topographic regions: lower Guinea - a coastal plain stretching 275 km in length and 50 km in width; middle Guinea (Fouta Djalon) - a mountainous plateau up to 910 m high; hills up to 300 m in height; lower Guinea is the mountainous part of the country where the Nimba ridge is located (the highest point is 1752 m). The main rivers are Bafing and Gambia; the Niger and Milo rivers also originate in Guinea.
The country's population (estimated for 1998) is about 7,477,100 people, with an average population density of about 30 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Fulani - 35%, Malinke - 30%, Susu - 20%, other tribes - 15%. Language: French (national), Malinke, Susu, Fulani, Kisi, Basari, Loma, Koniagi, Kpele. Religion: Muslims - 85%, Christians - 8%, pagans - 7%. The capital is Conakry. Largest cities: Conakry (1,508,000 people). Kankan (278,000 people), Labe (273,000 people), Nzerekore (250,000 people). The government system is a republic. The head of state is President Brigadier General Lansana Conte (in office since April 5, 1984). The head of government is Prime Minister S. Type. The monetary unit is the Guinean franc. Average life expectancy (as of 1998): 44 years - men, 45 years - women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) is 41.3. The mortality rate (per 1000 people) is 17.8.
The northern and eastern parts of the territory of modern Guinea were once part of the Mali and Songhai empires. In the 18th century, a theocratic Islamic state was created. In 1891, Guinea became a colony of France, and in 1906 it became part of French West Africa. On October 2, 1958, Guinea gained independence. In March 1984, as a result of a bloodless military coup, the military came to power. Guinea is a member of the UN and most of the organization's specialized agencies. Organization of African Unity.
Guinea's climate varies across different topographic zones. In the coastal strip the average annual temperature is about 27°C, in Fouta Jalon - about 20°C, in upper Guinea - 21°C. 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. Guinea's vegetation is very diverse, from the dense mangrove forests along the ocean coast to the savannah of Upper Guinea and the dense jungle of Lower Guinea. The fauna is represented by leopards, hippos, wild boars, antelopes, and civets. The country has a large number of snakes and crocodiles, as well as parrots and turacos (banana eaters).
One of Conakry's most significant attractions is the National Museum with a rich collection of exhibits.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Guinea is located in West Africa off the Atlantic Ocean, which has a 300-kilometer long rugged coastline. Area - 245.8 thousand sq. km. Until 1958, Guinea was a colony of France (cm. France), now a presidential republic with a population of about 9.5 million people. The official language is French. Most of Guinea lies in the subequatorial belt. Average monthly air temperatures range from 18° to 27°C, the hottest month is April, the coldest month is August. Precipitation falls mainly in summer, but is distributed very unevenly over the territory: on the coast, up to 4,300 mm of precipitation falls during 170 rainy days a year, and in the interior regions, separated from the ocean by a mountain range, no more than 1,500 mm.
The territory of the country is located within the ancient African platform, broken by numerous faults and faults with outcrops of volcanic rocks. Deep river valleys and rolling low mountains make Guinea look like a mountainous country. The largest elevations are the Fouta Djallon Highlands (the highest mountain is Tamge, 1537 m), limiting a narrow coastal lowland, and the North Guinea Highlands in the southeast of the country (with the highest mountain Nimba, 1752 m above sea level). The Fouta Djallon plateau is called by geographers the “water tower of West Africa”, because the largest rivers in the region, the Gambia and Senegal, begin here. The Niger River (here called Djoliba) also originates in the North Guinea Highlands. Guinea's numerous rivers are generally unnavigable due to numerous rapids and waterfalls, as well as sharp fluctuations in water levels.
The traveler is struck by the bright red or red-brown color of the soils of the savannas and forests of Guinea, rich in iron oxides. Despite the poverty of these soils, which makes farming difficult, the natural vegetation is very rich. Along the rivers, gallery tropical rainforests still exist, although in most other places they have been replaced by tropical dry forests and wooded savannas as a result of human activity. In the north of the country you can see real tall grass savannas, and on the ocean coast - mangroves. Along the ocean coast, coconut palms, Guinea oil palms, and other exotic plants are common, making even the streets of large cities look like a botanical garden. The country's fauna is still rich: elephants, hippos, various species of antelope, panthers, cheetahs, and numerous monkeys (especially baboons, living in large herds) have survived. It is also worth mentioning forest cats, hyenas, mongooses, crocodiles, large and small snakes and lizards, and hundreds of bird species. There are also numerous insects, including many dangerous ones that carry the pathogens of yellow fever and sleeping sickness (tsetse fly).
Almost the entire population of Guinea belongs to the Negroid race. The most numerous people are the Fulani, who inhabit mainly the Futa Djallon plateau. Other peoples belong to the Mande linguistic subgroup: Malinke, Korako, Susu. The official language, French, is spoken by only a small part of the population, and the most common languages ​​are Ful, Malinke, and Susu. 60% of the population are Muslims, about 2% are Christians, the rest adhere to traditional beliefs. The majority of the population is employed in agriculture (cattle breeding, as well as the cultivation of rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, and corn). The capital and largest city of Guinea is Conakry (1.8 million inhabitants). Other large cities are the industrial centers and transport hubs of Kankan, Kandia, and Labe.

Encyclopedia of tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

Modern encyclopedia

Guinea is one of the poorest countries in Africa. And, therefore, tourism here is very poorly developed. Few tourists rarely visit this country, since there are practically no attractions in the country. The high cost and uncivilized attitude towards nature scares off vacationers. The only entertainment that visiting tourists can watch is Guinean dancing. Tourists can visit the capital of Guinea, Conakry, and see with their own eyes all the poverty and wretchedness of this country. Although the subsoil of this African country is rich in diamonds, gold and aluminum ores. Despite the poverty, tourists can taste some of the best coffee in the world.

Guinea was previously a French colony. Guinea is divided into several geographical regions. Lower Guinea is a plain, Middle Guinea is a mountain plateau, Upper Guinea is a savannah with small hills, and the Nimba Range is located in Highland Guinea. The African rivers Milo and Niger begin their sources in this country. Tourists wishing to visit Guinea must take into account the very hot subequatorial climate, where rain alternates with drought. For vacationing tourists, savannas, mangrove forests, and impenetrable jungles will open on the ocean shore. The fauna of the animal world is very diverse. You can see antelopes, hippos, parrots and other exotic animals in their natural environment.

Population of Guinea

Guinea's population is estimated to be about 9.8 million people. Guineans live on average 56 years. Most of the population is not literate. The official language is French. The national languages ​​are 8 local languages ​​- Fulfide, Susu, Kisi, Loma, Kpele, Baga, Kona and Malinke. Thirty percent of the country's population lives in cities. The ethnic composition of the population of Guinea consists of three nationalities - the Fulani, the Malinke and the Susu. Sunni Islam predominates in the country; it makes up about 85 percent of the population and only 8 percent are Christians; most of the population are supporters of their ancient faith and worship. In the last century, until about the 70s, Guinea was home to large communities of foreigners - about 40 thousand migrants from Nigeria, doing hard work in cocoa groves in Bioko and logging in Mbini. About 7 thousand Europeans are in Guinea - these are businessmen, government officials and missionaries. The Spanish diaspora, numbering about four thousand people, also lives in Guinea. The majority of Guinea's population is black. There are approximately 30 nationalities living in the country

Tourists will be interested in visiting the capital of Guinea. Since 1958, the capital of Guinea has been Conakry. The capital is located on the picturesque Tombo Island, which is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Conakry is a major port. The population of the capital is about seven hundred thousand inhabitants, with surrounding areas. The city is divided into 5 districts: Matoto, Matam, Dikin, Ratoma and Kalum.

The capital of Guinea is the main economic center of the country. It houses the lion's share of all Guinean industry - these are mainly processing industries. The port through which Guinea exports natural resources and agricultural products is important for all foreign trade. There is a polytechnic institute in Conakry, built with the participation of the Soviet Union. Tourists can also visit the National Museum, and in the Dixin area admire the beauty of the Botanical Garden, which was laid out back in 1884. The city is located on the picturesque shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Tourists can relax in hotels and enjoy the warm waters of the ocean. By modern standards, Conakry is a small compact city. However very expensive. Expensive primarily in relation to visiting tourists.

History of Guinea

Back in the 10th-11th centuries, the territory of Guinea belonged to another state - Ghana. Around the 13th century, after the collapse of Ghana, the state of Mali was formed. At the same time, the religion of Islam was established among the population of the country and until the 16th century. Mali was the strongest in this region of Africa. However, it was soon captured by another empire, Gao, and a new country, Tekrur, was created, located in the western direction. In the 17th century The Bambara people overthrow the emperor of the Malinke people. At this time, all trade was located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, where the French, Portuguese, and British engaged in the slave trade competed with each other. On the territory of modern Guinea, the slave trade was not as important as on the shores of Senegal, Nigeria and Dahomey. In the 19th century, after the slave trade was banned, it was replaced by trade in rubber, palm oil, peanuts and hides. In 1881, the territory of present-day Guinea became a colony of France. The uprisings of the Guinean people continued until the First World War. During the colonial rule of France, the people of Guinea did not have any rights and freedoms. and only in 1958 did Guinea gain independence. In 1991, Guinea adopted a new constitution. And the state begins to implement a number of reforms to strengthen the economic and political independence of the country.

Government of Guinea

Guinea has a republican system. The leader of the country is the president, who is elected by the people by direct vote for a term of 5 years. The President can be elected for a second term. The President is the supreme commander of all the armed forces of the republic. The president heads the government, which consists of the prime minister and twenty-two ministers. The National Assembly is elected for five years and consists of 114 deputies. There are local municipal councils that are re-elected every 4 years. The country's judicial system is represented by the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed for life. All other judges are appointed by the president of the country. Local executive power is exercised by prefects of administrative centers and districts and are also appointed by the president of the republic. Public organizations - trade unions of workers do not have much influence on domestic policy. Domestic policy is aimed at stabilizing society and improving the economy, as well as the security of its sovereignty. However, social tension is negatively affected by the presence of corruption in government institutions, crime, unemployment and other crisis factors.

Transport Guinea

For the information of tourists, the main mode of transport in Guinea is road transport. At gas stations you don’t need to ask for the brand of gasoline; for Guineans there is always the same brand. The country has 6825 km. Highways of republican significance, of which 2 thousand kilometers are paved. Most roads are difficult to navigate during the rainy season. Two thousand metal and concrete bridges have been built, and there are 29 crossings. The fleet has 120 thousand cars. Taxis are available in cities. Almost all of them are imported. The railway is poorly developed, which is provided by one line Kankan-Conakry; its length is 662 kilometers and it was built in the last century and needs to be modernized. There are railway lines for the delivery of alumina and bauxite to the ports of Komsar and Conakry. One of the most preferred modes of transport is the plane, although it is the most expensive. The country has only one international airport, Conakry, which can accommodate up to 350 thousand passengers per year. Guinea has another five paved airfields and ten unpaved ones. The country's economy mainly uses small aircraft.

Sights of Guinea

Tourists visiting Guinea can admire the contrasts of nature in a small area. The impenetrable jungles in the south and the dried valleys of the north will allow tourists to enjoy the pristine African nature. The beautiful Fouta Djallon highlands and stunning sea views will delight travelers.

You need to visit the city of Kankan - the center of the political and spiritual culture of the Malinke people. In the Middle Ages, when the Mali Empire existed on the territory of Guinea, the city of Kankan was built.

There are a lot of historical monuments in the city, and in order to get a good look at them, tourists will need a local guide. The attention of tourists will be attracted by the beautifully decorated Grand Mosque and the Presidential Palace on the picturesque Milo River. In Conakry, the capital of Guinea, the National Museum is located which houses a huge collection of masks, national musical instruments and African figurines. The building itself was built in the style of the French Louvre. For ballet lovers, a large People's Palace was built in the north of the Roux du Niger, where numerous festive events are held. Tourists who want to see very exotic animals should visit the foot of Mount Nimba, where they will see the only toad in the world breastfeeding its children.

Natural plants in Guinea are diverse and numerous. Despite the fact that the soil here is poor and after fires and clearings the plants feel excellent. Human-induced plant degradation is increasingly reflected in tropical dry forests, forest savannas and secondary savannas. There are very few virgin, true tropical forests left; they are found only along river banks and in the mountains. Guinean vegetation for tourists from northern countries is a botanical garden. Even the capital of Guinea is similar to it.

The coast of Guinea is entirely covered with mangroves, which are mercilessly cut down by humans; charcoal is made from the trees, and rice is grown in the cleared areas. Coconut and banana palms, raffia palms, and oil palms grow on the shore.

You can also see giant trees up to 50 meters high in tropical forests. Several thousand plant species grow in Guinea.

The country's fauna includes large animals such as elephants and hippopotamuses. In Northern Guinea you can still see herds of antelopes, pygmy bongo and gib antelopes. The rainforests of Guinea are home to cheetahs, African panthers, chimpanzees and numerous herds of baboons that destroy agricultural crops.

Minerals of Guinea

The subsoil of Guinea is very rich in minerals. On its territory there are bauxite deposits of approximately 25 billion tons, which is one third of the world's reserves of this raw material. Guinea is the second largest exporter of ore for aluminum production. Bauxite is mainly mined by open pit mining by three companies. The largest bauxite mining complex is located near the city of Boke. This enterprise is owned by Guinea and the HALCO company and produces 14 mil. tons of ore per year. The Guinean government is attracting foreign capital to this industry. The Republic of Guinea contains deposits of diamonds and gold. Together with the Russian company International Diamond Group, Guinea is conducting geological surveys to identify diamond placers. Guinea, together with a Russian company, is mastering the latest technologies and applying them to us in practice. Gold deposits in Guinea exceed gold reserves in Europe, and among African countries it occupies a leading position in its reserves. Gold is mined mainly by foreign companies. Most of the mines are controlled by the state, using the old method of gold mining. Guinea imports about 15 tons of this precious metal every year.

Approximately 80% of Guinea's total population works in agriculture. The main crops grown are corn, rice and cassava - this is the main food of the Guinean population. Mainly rural residents are engaged in breeding goats, sheep, poultry and cattle. However, the country faces food shortages and is forced to purchase sugar, dairy products and rice. The cultivation of agricultural land is at a very low level due to a lack of funds to improve advanced farming technologies. Guinea exports: pineapples, bananas, chocolate tree, oil palm and peanuts. Due to the loss of French markets and the departure of specialists from Europe, the export of these crops has decreased since 1958. Guinea has been supplying bananas to the world market since the 80s. One of the main products exported to the world market is Guinean coffee, considered one of the best in the world. Dry-harvested coffee beans are not roasted; although they are not aromatic, they are very strong and have a bitter-sour taste. Some of the best varieties of Guinean coffee are robusta. Guinean coffee has 7 varieties: prima, extra prima, superior, limit, suli, kuran, graje shua.

Reserves of Guinea

On the border of Cote d'Ivoire and Leberia there is a National Park with an area of ​​13 thousand hectares. Scientists call it a “botanical garden.” On the territory of which more than 2 thousand different plants grow, many of which are very rare. Biologists found here more than 200 unfamiliar animals and 500 species of unknown insects, the habitat of which is only in this National Park. Tourists can see dwarf duiker antelopes, spotted hyenas, and viviparous toads. The park has never been inhabited by people, but recently there has been an increase in population due to refugees from Liberia. This threatens the reserve. Travel by tourists only in organized groups and under the supervision of reserve staff. Scientists from all over the world constantly work in the reserve. In Guinea there is the Upper Niger Nature Reserve, its territory covers six thousand square kilometers of savannas and forests. Relict dry forests have been preserved here, with many birds and mammals including lions, mongooses, African elephants, and giant lizards - which are the pride of the reserve’s employees. One of the amazing wonders of the park is the Niger River itself, which is 4 thousand 180 kilometers long. The river is home to both exotic and freshwater fish, such as carp and crucian carp.

Resorts of Guinea

Tourists can visit a resort in Guinea with a mountain climate and the D’Asyuel health center, which uses modern healing methods. The mountain air and beautiful nature will give you great pleasure.

One of the cities in Guinea that tourists should definitely visit is Labe, which has small markets where you can buy exotic African souvenirs and plunge into the leisurely life and way of life of the Fula people living in this city.

The resort town of Farana is located 420 kilometers from Conakry, and the president of the country personally exercises control over it. Farana has very good restaurants with excellent cuisine. The attraction of this city is the local mosque and villas built in classical and Victorian styles. On Mondays, traders and local farmers organize a huge fair. Almost all tourist routes go from this city to the Bafara waterfall and the Fuyama rapids. It should be noted that such cities as Kankan, Nzerekore, Cape Verga, where there are the best beaches in the country, also deserve the attention of tourists. Much attention should be paid to Guinean markets, where you can buy everything and not very expensive, since all markets are transshipment bases for products from neighboring countries.

Economy of Guinea

The Republic of Guinea is primarily an agricultural country. Although it also has a mining industry - copper, bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds. The state's gross national product consists of 24% agriculture, 31% mining and 45% services. Guinea is still economically dependent on aid from other countries. It still imports petroleum products, cars and food. Bananas, coffee, aluminum and diamonds are exported from the country. Guinea trades with countries in Europe and America. Guinea produces its electricity 770 million kWh. in year. Harveses 5.5 million cubic meters of wood, banning the export of unprocessed wood abroad. The republic is developing its fishing fleet, although fish production is only a little more than 60 thousand tons per year. Guinea is restructuring its economy together with the International Monetary Fund and it is yielding results. Private business has become more active in all spheres of the economy. Administrative reforms have begun in the country. A course has been adopted to combat corruption. But life for indigenous Guineans remains very difficult due to high prices for food and services.

Medicine in Guinea

The Republic of Guinea is a state where poverty is very high, which is why there are problems with the provision of qualified medical care. Since the majority of Guinea's population lives in villages and towns, people are not always able to get to a medical facility and pay for treatment. There is a shortage of medical supplies and materials in the country, so the population cannot receive qualified medical care. The main disease in the country is malaria, which accounts for 30% of hospitalizations. Lack of funds for necessary medications leads to outbreaks of this disease. The epidemiological situation in the country is complicated by thousands of refugees from the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. With the help of international medical organizations, voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS is carried out here. Help is provided with medications and antiviral drugs. International medical organizations, together with the Ministry of Health, helped eliminate the cholera epidemic in Conakry and Bok; assistance was provided to 3 thousand patients. Within three weeks, about 370 thousand people were vaccinated against yellow fever.

Education in Guinea

Back when Guinea was a colony of France, schools in the country were mainly Muslim, where Islam was the basis of study. The cities of Tubu and Kankan were centers of Muslim education already in the 17th century. It was only in the 19th century that European-style schools appeared in Christian missions. Children from the age of seven began to study and received primary education in 6 years. To obtain secondary education, it was necessary to study from the age of 13, in two stages: four years at college and three years at the lyceum. The Republic of Guinea ranks last in terms of girls' school enrollment (according to UNESCO). Higher education in the country is represented by two

universities in the cities of Kankan and Conakry and institutes in the cities of Farana and Boke. The country has an institute for scientific research and the Guinean Pasteur Institute. Before 2000, approximately 35.9% of the total population in the country were literate. Most Guineans cannot receive a proper education due to poverty. Only a small percentage of the population (rich people) can afford to get an education abroad. Thanks to UNESC, Guinea is undergoing programs to improve the quality of education and its accessibility for all segments of society.

The Republic of Guinea has a military budget of about 52 million dollars a year. The number of armed forces is 9 thousand 700 people, the gendarmerie is one thousand people and two thousand six hundred people are paramilitary forces, the Guard of the Republic numbers one thousand six hundred people. The term of service of a military personnel is 24 months upon conscription. The armed forces of the republic consist of 9 battalions: one tank, one special purpose, one engineer, commando and five infantry. There are two divisions in service: anti-aircraft and artillery. The tank fleet consists of 53 tanks: T-34, PT-76, T-54, 40 armored personnel carriers and 27 armored personnel carriers; all this equipment was delivered to the country by the Soviet Union in the 60s and 70s. The Republic's Air Force numbers 800 people and is armed with the following aircraft: four MIG-17F, four MIG-15 UTI, four MIG-21 and one MI-8 helicopter. The army in Guinea seized power, accusing the displaced government of corruption and inability to carry out reforms in the country. The military coup was carried out by the country's army leadership under the slogan of protecting the territorial integrity of the country. As always, the people supported the Puschists.

To hunt animals in Guinea, you need to have a good large-caliber gun and be a physically strong and dexterous person with good reaction, since you need to shoot from behind dense thickets and from a distance of 30-50 meters. For successful hunting of the Red Forest Pig or the Giant Forest Pig, fertilizing and sun are used in the hunting areas, which even buffalos do. This type of hunting is used from a specially equipped tower, as well as from the approach. The most reliable shotgun with optics can be rented directly at the hunting camp. One of the best areas for hunting is the Sabuya area - there are many Sing Sing waterbuck, duiker antelopes, forest pigs and forest buffalo. This area has a developed road system, which facilitates successful hunting. In the north-west of Guinea is the Kumbia region where animals such as warthog, palm marten, hippopotamus, savannah buffalo and lions are found. Hunting is carried out only by pursuing animals and only by two hunters at a time. If you want to hunt hippopotamus, then the Boke Sangaredi area is the place for you.

If you are a fisherman, then you will not find a better place for fishing than the Bijag archipelago for fishing.

Here you can apply a variety of technical types of coastal fishing for tropical fish. Spinning rods are mainly used for fishing. A fisherman can catch barracuda, stingray, shark, red carp, and carp. Guinea is a fishing paradise.

Architecture of Guinea

Guineans mainly build traditional dwellings - round huts with a diameter of 6-10 meters and cover them with thatch in the form of a cone-shaped roof. In different parts of the country, huts are built from different materials. The huts are built using a mixture of clay and straw, stakes and bamboo mats. In cities, houses are built mainly with rectangular flat roofs and terraces. The construction of mosques is a separate type of architecture. Modern cities are built with multi-storey buildings made of reinforced concrete and brick, the Soviet Union helped in the construction and design of which. The ancient houses were built in French and Portuguese style, since Guinea was a colony of these countries. In large cities and the capital, villas surrounded by tropical greenery have been built. The majority of the country's population still lives in squalid conditions, without any basic amenities. Huts are built in a circle in the village in the center, which is not a large area. Recently, foreign companies have been building ultra-modern buildings made of glass and concrete in cities. These are mainly offices of large companies and corporations, banks and other institutions of foreign investors. The share of the public sector in construction is very small.

Fine arts and crafts of Guinea

Objects of art of the people living in the Republic of Guinea, such as sculpture of the Baga and Darker people, helmet-shaped African halo masks, polychrome banda masks, are widely represented in private collections and in other museums around the world, such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Art began to emerge on a professional basis only after the country gained independence. National artists appeared such as Matinez Sirena, M.B. Cossa, M. Conde and many others who studied painting back in the Soviet Union. In Guinea, arts and crafts are well developed: mainly ivory and wood carving, jewelry, pottery, metal work (chasing), making a variety of baskets, mats, finishing leather and products made from them. All this can be purchased at markets from merchants in the city. Products made of gold and silver are real works of art, as they are made filigree and gracefully. Tourists visiting this country never leave without buying a souvenir made by local artisans. Women's jewelry made of leather and gold is very beautiful.

Literature of Guinea

The literature of Guinea is based on the oral works (fairy tales, proverbs, songs and myths) of the people. Folklore traditions are preserved thanks to griots (wandering actor-storytellers). Even before the colonization of the country, writing was in the Dalek of the Fulani people (poems called “Qasidas”) All modern Guinean literature is written in French. The founder of Guinean national literature is the writer Camara Ley. Other well-known writers are Emil Sise, Sassien, Monemembo, William Sasein. The works of many Guinean writers and poets have been published in France. In the country itself, the illiterate population hardly knows its writers. The most famous poets of Guinea are Rai Otra, Lunsaini Kaba and Nene Khali. Guinean writers describe in their works the difficult life of the common people and their desire for independence and national unity. In the fairy tales of the peoples inhabiting Guinea, the main characters are animals that are endowed with human traits and vices. But good always defeats evil and deceit. Guinean literature influences its neighboring countries and contributes to the humanitarian education of the peoples of Africa.

Guinea- a state in West Africa. In the north it borders with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, in the east and southeast - with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south - with Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The name of the country comes from the Berber iguawen - “dumb”.

Capital

Square

Population

7614 thousand people

Administrative division

The state is divided into 8 provinces.

Form of government

Republic.

Head of State

President, elected for a term of 5 years.

Supreme legislative body

A unicameral National Assembly (parliament) with a term of office of 5 years.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Kankan, Labe, Nzerekore.

Official language

French.

Religion

85% are Sunni Muslims.

Ethnic composition

35% - Fulani, 30% - Malinke, 20% - Su-Su, 15% - other tribes.

Currency

Franc = 100 centimes.

Climate

The climate of Guinea varies depending on the topographic zones, predominantly subequatorial. In the coastal strip the average annual temperature is + 27 °C, in Fouta Djallon - about + 20 °C, in upper Guinea + 21 °C. The hottest month of the year is April, and the rainiest months are July and August. The rainy season lasts from April-May to October-November. On the coast, during 170 rainy days a year, up to 4300 mm of precipitation falls, in inland areas - no more than 1500 mm.

Flora

The vegetation in Guinea is quite diverse: dense mangrove forests, coconut palms, Guinean oil palms, and other exotic plants grow along the ocean shores. In the Upper Guinea region there is savanna, and in the Lower Guinea region there is impenetrable jungle.

Fauna

Representatives of the fauna of Guinea, which is quite rich, include elephant, leopard, hippopotamus, wild boar, panther, antelope, many monkeys (especially baboons, living in herds). There are a large number of snakes and crocodiles, as well as parrots and banana-eaters (turaco).
Rivers and lakes. The largest rivers are Bafing, Gambia, Senegal, and the Niger (here called Djoliba) and Milo rivers originate here.

Attractions

National Museum with a rich collection of exhibits, including historical and ethnographic ones.

Useful information for tourists

The Republic of Guinea primarily attracts visitors with its picturesque elevated landscapes of the Fouta Djallon highlands, an excellent road network by African standards (especially in the southeast) and the impressive contrast between the dry northern valleys and the endless jungle in the southern regions.
Nzerekore is the cheapest city in Guinea and the starting point for ecological excursions into the forest area, famous for its inhabitants - forest elephants, numerous primates, and it is also one of the few places in Africa where you can still meet the forest leopard. The local market is considered the largest transshipment base for goods from neighboring countries, so you can buy almost everything here at a modest price.

Country information:

Capital: Conakry. Currency: Guinean franc.

Guinea is a West African country bordered by Senegal, Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea attracts visitors with its picturesque elevated landscapes of the Fouta Djallon highlands, an excellent road network by African standards (especially in the southeast) and the impressive contrast between the dry northern valleys and the endless jungle in the southern regions. Of interest to Conakry tourists is the modern complex of office and bank buildings between the Roux du Niger and the Ave de la République. The National Museum of Guinea has a large collection of masks, sculptures and national instruments, housed in a spacious exhibition building in the style of the Parisian Louvre. Opposite the Presidential Palace (formerly the headquarters of the OAU), there are about 50 picturesque Moorish-style villas, currently used as offices for a number of international organizations. The enormous People's Palace in the northern part of the Roux du Niger is home to traditional performances by the two local ballet theaters and hosts numerous festive ceremonies.
Guinea. Basic information
Currency
Guinean franc
Visa
Entry with a foreign passport. Children: Power of attorney from parent(s) for children under 18 years of age. Visa issuance times are up to 3 days. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is recommended (not required).
Time
The time is 2 hours behind Kyiv.
Geography
Guinea is a country in West Africa. It borders on the north with Senegal, on the north and northeast on Mali, on the east on the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast), on the south on Liberia, on the southwest on Sierra Leone, on the north -west - with Guinea-Bissau. From the west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Main partners of the country
Cote d'Ivoire, France, Belgium, China, South Africa, Great Britain, Switzerland, Ukraine.
Attractions
A national park in the south of the country, in the mountain range of the same name, near the border with Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire. The southern part (5 thousand hectares) of this international protected area is located on the territory of the latter, while on the Guinean side the area of ​​the park is 13 thousand. ha.
Biologists call the Nimba Mountains a “botanical paradise.” More than 2 thousand plant species grow here, including many rare ones. However, from a zoological point of view, this area of ​​Africa is also unique. Scientists have discovered more than 500 species of insects and other previously unknown animals here, 200 of which live only in the Nimba Mountains.

In the park you can find several species of dwarf duiker antelopes, a rare representative of the civet family, a relative of the mongoose - the spotted genet, and an amazing creature that refutes all ideas about amphibians - the viviparous toad.
The Futa Djallon plateau is one of the main attractions of the country, which attracts a large number of tourists. As well as attractions such as Bafara Falls and Fuyama Rapids. The plateau will amaze you with its emerald green vegetation covering the picturesque hills, relative coolness, charming villages with friendly residents and very tasty folk cuisine. The most popular towns here are Mamu - the 'gate of Futa Djallon'.
History of the country
At the end of the 19th century. Guinea was colonized by France and since 1904 has been part of the federation of French West Africa. In a referendum in 1958, the Guinean people voted for independence, which was proclaimed on October 2. A. Sekou Toure was elected president of the country. After his death in 1984, power passed to the Military Committee for National Revival. Its leader, Colonel Lansana Conte, became the president of the country. In 2007, mass demonstrations took place demanding the resignation of the government and urgent measures to bring the country out of the crisis.
How to get there
There is no direct connection from Ukraine to Guinea. A transfer is required at one of the European or African airports.
Climate
Equatorial monsoon, wet in summer, dry in winter. Average monthly air temperatures range from +18 C to +27 C, the hottest month is April (+30 C), the coldest month is August (+26 C). Precipitation falls mainly in summer, from May to October, but is distributed very unevenly across the country: on the coast, up to 4,300 mm falls during 170 rainy days a year. precipitation, and in inland areas separated from the ocean by a mountain range, no more than 1500 mm. In January-February, the “harmattan” blows - a dry, dusty wind from the north; in the coastal regions of the country its influence is practically not felt.
Credit cards
Accepted only in international hotels and in the capital.
Culture
Over the centuries, the material and spiritual culture of the Guinean peoples has evolved. To a greater or lesser extent, all the peoples of Guinea retained until recently or are still alive the customs and traditions of the communal tribal era.
The main social unit in the village was (or still is) a large family, uniting, under the leadership of the head-patriarch, several small families of his adult children and younger brothers.

She collectively owned part of the communal land and jointly carried out labor-intensive work; at the same time, each small family lived on its own farm. In the new socio-economic conditions, there is a rapid process of disintegration of large families and the emergence of small families as independent units of society. The residential and outbuildings of a large family - its number sometimes reached a hundred people (among the Malinkas, for example) - made up one estate, fenced with a clay wall, wattle fence, and hedge. Almost the entire life of a peasant is spent in the open air; in their dwellings they only sleep at night, shelter from the rain and sometimes from the sun. The dwellings of almost all the peoples of Guinea are similar: it is usually a round structure (made of clay, straw, sometimes wood), without windows, with a cone-shaped or dome-shaped (among the Fulani) roof made of straw or foliage.

Visa to Guinea
Address of the foreign embassy/consulate in our country
There is no Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in Ukraine. The embassy is also located in the Russian Federation:
Address: 119049 Moscow, Koroviy Val, 7, apt. 101-102 Phone: (+7 495) 238-10-85 Fax: (+7 495) 238-97-68
Address of our embassy/consulate in the country
Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Guinea:
Republique de Guinee, Commune Calum, Corniche Nord, Quartier Camayenne B.P. 1350 PHONE: (8 10 224 30) 46 87 92 (8 10 224 30) 46 88 75 FAX: (8 10 224 30) 46 87 92
Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Entry into the country
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is recommended (not required).
For children
Children under 16 years old are included in the visa of their parents (mother). To travel with a child under 18 years of age you will need:
1. Child’s birth certificate;
2. International passport of the child or international passport of the parent in which the child is registered;
3. If a child is traveling accompanied by one of the parents, a notarized power of attorney for the child’s departure from the second parent is required
4. If a child is traveling accompanied by third parties, a notarized power of attorney for the child to travel is required from both parents
Documents for visa
1. 3 completed forms (issued at the Embassy)
2. 3 color photographs 3.5x4.5 cm, on a white background, without corners and ovals
3. Request for a visa and the original invitation, certified by the official seals of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guinea.
4. Certificate of employment on company letterhead, indicating the position, salary and start date of work in the company.
5. Copy of completed pages of the Russian passport 6. International passport
Border crossing
When crossing the border of Guinea, you must present a passport with a valid entry visa and an insert filled out in French, which indicates: full name, date and place of birth, citizenship, profession, address of permanent residence in Guinea, passport and visa numbers, departure point.
Visa validity period
The entry visa is valid for 30 days.
Visa processing times
from 2 working days
Visa cost
40 USD

The content of the article

GUINEA, Republic of Guinea. State in West Africa. The capital is Conakry (1.77 million people - 2003). Territory– 245.9 thousand sq. km. Administrative division– 8 provinces. Population– 9.69 million people. (2006, evaluation). 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 Francophonie (OIF), the Mano River Union (UMR) since 1980.

Geographical location and boundaries.

Continental State. It borders in the northwest with Guinea-Bissau, in the north with Senegal, in the north and northeast with Mali, in the east with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south with Liberia and Sierra Leone. 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 Maritime, Guinea - is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights less than 150 m above sea level. The swampy coastline 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 rivers Kogon, Fatala and Konkure, cutting through the lowlands, originate in the deep valleys of the second region - Central Guinea. Here the Fouta Djallon 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 a predominance of savannah landscapes, with mountain meadows in the highest places. The area is inhabited by the Fulani people. The predominant occupation of the population is animal husbandry.

To the east of the Fouta Djallon massif, on the plains in the upper Niger River basin, is Upper Guinea. It is a savannah region inhabited primarily by Malinke farmers.

Forest Guinea, located in the southeast of the country, occupies part of the North Guinea Upland with small tracts 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 savannah; in some areas, especially along river valleys, tropical forests have been preserved. Forest Guinea is home to many small ethnic groups who engage in farming.

The climate of Guinea is characterized by a clear contrast between the wet season, lasting from May to October (and longer on the coast than on the plains of the northeast) and the dry season, when a hot wind blows from the northeast - the harmattan. With the exception of its northernmost part, the coastal lowland is reliably protected from dry winds by mountains. Moist southwesterly winds bring heavy rainfall, which falls on the western slopes of the mountains. The Conakry region has an average annual rainfall of 4,300 mm, of which 4,000 mm occurs during the wet season. Inland areas receive an average of 1,300 mm of precipitation per year. High temperatures prevail throughout the year, rarely falling below 15°C, and sometimes reaching 38°C.

The Futa Djallon massif is characterized by the highest population density, where the Fulani graze cattle, sheep and goats in the mountain meadows, and various crops are grown in the fertile valleys. 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, are of export importance. In a number of coastal areas, mangroves have been cleared for rice fields.

Minerals– diamonds, aluminum, bauxite, 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.). The Niger (one of the largest in Africa) and Gambia rivers originate in Guinea.

Population.

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

Approximately 90% of Guineans are Muslim. Most of the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs and cults. Although the first Christian missions were founded in what is now Guinea in the 19th century, the number of Christians is small.

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. Infant mortality is 90 per 1000 births. 44.4% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age – 3.2%. The average age of the population is 17.7 years. The fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) is 5.79. Life expectancy is 49.5 years (men – 48.34, women – 50.7). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2006).

Guinea is a multi-ethnic state. The African population makes up more than 97%, there are approx. 30 nationalities and ethnic groups. The largest of them 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), Landuma, Mikifore, Nalu, Tiapi, etc. Approx. 3% of the population are Europeans, Lebanese, Moors and Syrians.

The rural population is more than 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 countries in Africa and Europe. 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, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.) - 2003.

The first Muslims appeared on the territory of modern Guinea in the 12th century. The massive penetration of Islam began in the 15th–16th centuries. AD from the territory of modern Mauritania and other Maghreb countries. Islam of the Sunni () direction of the Maliki persuasion is widespread. The Sufi orders (tarikat) Tijaniyya, Qadiriyya, Barkhayya (or Barqiyya) 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 structure.

Guinea is a republic. The constitution in force was adopted on December 23, 1991, as amended in November 2001. 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 universal suffrage for a 5-year term. 1/3 of the parliament is elected from single-member constituencies, and 2/3 is elected on the basis of proportional representation.

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

State flag. A rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size - red (at the shaft), 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 magistrates' courts.

Armed forces and defense.

The national armed forces were created on the basis of 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. Military service (2 years) is compulsory. In November 2005, mass dismissals were carried out (approx. 2 thousand people) from the army of officers, incl. and generals. Defense expenditures in 2005 amounted to $119.7 million (2.9% of GDP).

Foreign policy.

It is based on a 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 Resources of the Gambia River. 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 provided assistance to Guinea in the construction of industrial facilities, the creation of 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, economics and training of national personnel for Guinea. Some Russian companies are actively working on the Guinean market (in May 2006, the Russian Aluminum company bought the Frigia bauxite mining industrial complex, located 150 km from the capital).

Political organizations.

A multi-party system has developed in the country. The most influential political parties:

– « Unity and Progress Party», PEP(Parti de l'unité et du progrès, PUP), leader - 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”;

– « Uniting the Guinean people», OGN(Rassemblement populaire guinéen, RPG), leaders – Alpha Condé and Ahmed Tidiane Cissé. Main party in 1992.

Trade union associations.

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

ECONOMY

Guinea belongs to the group of 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 country's economically active population was 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 land is cultivated (2005). The main cash crops are pineapples, peanuts, bananas, coffee, oilseeds and citrus fruits. Sweet potatoes, legumes, corn, mangoes, cassava, vegetables, rice, sugarcane, fonio (millet) and yams are also grown. Livestock farming (breeding goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) and poultry farming are developing. Agriculture is carried out using backward methods with poor technical equipment. It does not fully provide the population with food. In forestry, timber is harvested (including valuable varieties) and lumber is produced. Export of unprocessed wood 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 amounted to 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. There is industrial mining of bauxite (30% of the world's proven reserves), aluminum ore (average annual production averages 2.2 million tons), gold, diamonds, iron and granite. The manufacturing industry is poorly developed; there are factories and factories for fish processing, flour production, 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 bulk of imports are petroleum products, metal, machinery, vehicles, textiles, grain and food. The main import partners are Cote d'Ivoire (15.1%), France (8.7%), Belgium and China (5.9% each) and South Africa (4.6%) - 2004. Main export products - aluminum, bauxite (Guinea is one of the world's largest exporters), 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 country's energy system is underdeveloped; demand for electricity is noticeably ahead of supply. Guinea has significant hydroelectric potential. Electricity production in 2003 amounted to 775 million kilowatt-hours.

Transport.

Transport infrastructure is poorly developed. The functioning of 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 are paved) - 2003. The merchant fleet consists of 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 have hard surfaces) - 2005. Gbessia International Airport is located in Conakry.

Finance and credit.

The currency is the Guinean franc (GNF), 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, etc. visited Guinea. Tourism income in 2002 amounted to 12 million US dollars (in 1998 – 1 million US dollars) .

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

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

In the pre-colonial period, there was an extensive network of Muslim (Koranic) schools throughout the country. Already at the end. 17th century centers of Muslim education were established in the cities of Kankan and Tubu. The first European-style schools were opened at the end. 19th century at Christian missions.

Six years of education is compulsory, and children begin to receive it 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 college education, the second is a three-year lyceum education). According to UNESCO's 2003 World Human Development Report, Guinea is among the countries with the lowest rates 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 Farana. In 2002, at the university in Conakry (founded in 1962), 824 teachers worked in four faculties and 5 thousand students studied, at the university in Kankan (established in 1963, received university status in 1987) - respectively, 72 teachers and more than one thousand students . There are several research centers, incl. Guinea Pasteur Institute and National Institute of Scientific Research and Documentation. In the beginning. In the 2000s, approx. people were literate. 35.9% of the population (49.9% men and 21.9% women).

Healthcare.

Architecture.

The main type of traditional dwelling is a round hut (6–10 m in diameter) under a cone-shaped thatched roof. In different regions of the country, these huts differ in the material used in the construction of their walls: the so-called. “banko” (a building material made from a mixture of clay and straw), wattle coated with clay, stakes driven into the ground or bamboo mats suspended from a wooden frame. The houses of urban residents are mostly rectangular buildings under a flat roof and with a kind of terrace. A special type of architecture is the construction of mosques. Business districts of modern cities are built up with multi-story 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, USSR Embassy in Conakry, Rogbane Science Center, etc.).

Fine arts and crafts.

The surviving objects of fine art (helmet-shaped halo masks, polychrome banda masks, round sculpture 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 exhibitions and private collections of many museums around the world, incl. The Hermitage and the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in St. Petersburg.

Professional fine arts began to develop after independence. Artists: D. Kadiatu, M. Conde, M. B. Cossa, Matinez Sirena, K. Nanuman, M. C. Fallot, M. Phills. Many of the national artists were educated in the USSR.

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

Literature.

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

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

Music and theater.

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

Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing 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, who accompany themselves mainly on the kora (a string instrument), has been preserved. The musical instruments are diverse: drums (from small tamaru to giant dun-dun - bote, droma, dudumba, 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, keronaru (guitar), condival, koni, kora, molar. Orchestral music performance is popular. The first national orchestra was created in 1959.

Solo and choral singing is widespread. Epic tales and songs of praise are popular. Famous singers and musicians - Ahmed Traoré, M. Vandel, M. Kouyate, Mamamu Kamara, Sori Kandia Kouyate. 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 and the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean zone is carried out by the radio station Radio France Internationale).

Elements of theater were present in numerous rites and rituals that were performed on various holidays. In 1948, an African music and dance ensemble called “Balle African” was created; after the declaration of independence, he repeatedly performed on tours in the countries of Asia, America and Europe (in 1961 - in the USSR). The professional ballet ensemble "Djoliba" performed in the Soviet Union in 1966 and 1971. The formation of national theatrical art was greatly influenced by the French school of William Ponty in Dakar (Senegal), where many Guinean actors, playwrights and directors studied their craft in the 1930s. One of the first Guinean playwrights is Emile Cissé.

Cinema.

Documentary film production 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). The first feature films Black skin(1967) and Yesterday Today Tomorrow(1968), were filmed by director D. Costa. The first full-length feature film was Sergeant Bakari Woolen(1968, directed by Mohammed Lamine Akin). Other film directors are Alpha Bald, A. Dabo, K. Diana, M. Toure. The USSR provided active assistance in training national personnel. Since 1968, Guinean filmmakers 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, and later screenings of works by Russian filmmakers were held.

Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet.

Published in French:

– daily government newspaper “Horoya” (translated from the Susu language - “Dignity”);

– the government newsletter “Journal officiel de Guinée” - “Guinean Official Newspaper”, published twice a month;

– monthly magazine “Fonikee”.

The Guinean Press Agency, AGP (Agence guinéenne de presse, AGP), has been operating since 1960 and is located in Conakry. The government's "Guinea Radio 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 thousand Internet users in Guinea.

STORY

In the 10th–11th centuries. Most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. The mines near Siguiri probably produced some of Ghana's gold, which was exchanged for salt and other goods from North Africa in the cities of the Sahel. In the 12th century The Ghana Empire collapsed, and in the 13th century. in its place arose the Mali Empire, 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 Segu overthrew the Malinke Emperor.

By that time, the center of trade had moved to the coast, where there was intense competition between Portuguese, English and French slave traders. However, in this part of the West African coast the slave trade was less widespread than on the coasts of Nigeria, Dahomey and Senegal. After the official ban on the slave trade at the beginning of the 19th century. The coastal areas of modern Guinea continued to attract human traffickers, as the heavily indented coastline provided safe hiding places for slave trading vessels 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 traders settled in several trading posts and paid tribute to the leaders of the local tribes. Attempts by the leaders to increase the size of the tribute ended with France establishing its protectorate over the Boke region in 1849.

At the beginning of the 18th century. A powerful Fulani state arose on the territory of the Futa Djallon plateau. Islam became his state religion, which then spread among the inhabitants of the coastal regions, many of whom paid tribute to the Fulani leaders. Further development of European trade and the creation of new strongholds on the coast in the mid-19th century. led to friction between the French and the Fulbe 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, had settled in Fouta Djallon. By 1848, his popularity among the local population had grown so much that it began to cause concern among the Fulani leaders. Hajj Omar was forced to move to Dingirai, where he declared jihad (holy war) in the territory of Western Sudan, especially the kingdoms of Segu and Masina. In 1864, in a battle with the soldiers of Masina, Haj Omar died, and his son Ahmad 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 French protectorate. Ahmad later tried to renounce this treaty, but was removed from power by the French in 1891–1893.

The longest and most decisive resistance to the French colonialists was provided by Samory Toure. Malinka by ethnicity, he captured Kankan in 1879 and created a Muslim state southeast of Siguiri. In 1887 and 1890, the French concluded friendship treaties with Samori, but then denounced them, and hostilities resumed. In 1898, the French captured Samory Toure near Man in the west of modern Cote d'Ivoire and sent him into exile, where he died. The capture of Samory Toure marked the end of organized African resistance to the French invaders in the territory of modern Guinea, although spontaneous protests by Guineans did not stop until the beginning First World War.

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

In 1946, France decided to create an elected territorial assembly in Guinea and gradually relaxed 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 executive body consisting of Guineans.

The influence of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), a mass political organization led by trade unionist Sékou Touré, 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 exit from the French Community. As a result, on October 2, 1958, Guinea gained independence.

The Guineans' choice 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 Guinea's further isolation from France and its allies. In 1965, Guinea broke off diplomatic relations with France, accusing it 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 countries, 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 Sékou Touré himself retained his authority among the population, the government's policy became increasingly unpopular, and many thousands of Guineans emigrated.

In November 1970, Guinean emigrants who were in opposition to the Sékou Touré regime took part in an armed invasion of Guinean territory, which was organized with the support of Portugal. This action pursued two main goals: the overthrow of the government of Sékou Toure and the destruction 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, massive purges were carried out in the state apparatus and 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 able 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 dissolved the DPG 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. Based on the results of the first multiparty elections in the country's history in 1993, Conte was elected president. The 1995 parliamentary elections, accompanied by numerous clashes and acts of violence, were won by the Party of Unity and Progress, led by Conte.

In 1996, Conte appointed a new cabinet and introduced the post of prime minister, appointed by the president. Conte's government has been tasked with more vigorously pursuing an economic reform program that includes cutting government spending, fighting corruption and improving the efficiency of the tax system.

In the presidential elections held on December 14, 1998, Conte won again (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 country's president, starting with the 2003 elections, was extended to 7 years. In the parliamentary elections (June 30, 2002), the presidential Unity and Progress Party (UPP) won a landslide victory (85 of 114 seats in the National Assembly). The Union for Progress and Renewal (SPO) party 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 protests took place in major cities of the country, caused by a sharp rise in prices for rice, the main food product. The opposition accused the government of creating the most difficult economic situation in the country over the past five years. In January 2005, a coup attempt was foiled and more than 100 people were arrested on charges of participation in the 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, an audit of voter lists was carried out, and an independent election commission was created. In the municipal elections held in December 2005, the ruling PEP won a landslide victory (it won a majority of votes in 31 of the country's 38 cities). The last changes in the government were made on April 4, 2006. In March 2006, the health of President Conte, suffering from leukemia and diabetes, sharply deteriorated. Conte died on December 22, 2008. 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, and the leader of the military junta, Musa Dadis Kamara, promised to hold elections in 2010. His intention to stand as a candidate for them caused mass protests in the country. The military junta - the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) - refuses to conduct peace negotiations with the opposition, demonstrations and speeches are dispersed using 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 of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004