Welcome to one of Africa’s largest and most populated republics

Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, Guinea’s beautiful terrain consists of beaches, flat coastal plains, jungles and rainforests, and scenic mountainous interior area. The population is made up of a mix of groups. There are many languages spoken and several religions practiced in Guinea. Outdoor activities and sports are popular with the people who inhabit the various regions. There is a great enjoyment of music and dance.

Ruled by France until 1958, Guinea has since been under authoritarian rule. Lansana Conte came into power in 1984. Elections began in 1993, but after President Conte’s death, Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara formed a military coup and seized power and control. At the present time, there is a great security risk for citizens and visitors. See the travel warnings at http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/destinations/guinea.shtml

Guinea’s communication and transportation systems are slowly improving. Fixed telephone line service is still inadequate, but mobile communications are growing. There are television stations. Airports, railways, roadways, and waterways provide Guinea’s transportation needs.

Natural resources are abundant, but the possibilities for producing and exporting them are not as plentiful. Guinea’s economy is still in great turmoil from the recent government changes, and this, along with other factors, has hindered the development of agreements with other countries to mine, produce, and export their resources.

Water-The most precious resource

Containing the headwaters of many of the nation’s rivers, including the Senegal and Niger, Guinea has been named West Africa’s “water tower”. It is also one of the wettest countries due to the amount and frequency of rainfall, but there is a scarce amount of available drinking water. It is ironic in a land where bauxite, diamonds, and gold are plentiful, that the citizens cannot afford the service to sanitize and provide drinkable water, nor can the national water company. The majority of the people go for weeks, months, and even years without drinkable water, and are forced to go searching for water wherever they can find it, carrying buckets to and from the nearby rivers. Even the capital city of Conakry, the largest city in Guinea, feels the shortage and suffers from the lack of this precious resource and the ability to provide it.