GuineaConakry

Guinea, officially the Republic of Guinea, is a country in West Africa on the Atlantic coast. It is bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the ocean. Its capital and largest city is Conakry. The country covers about 245,857 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 14 million.

Geography ranges from a coastal plain to the highlands of Fouta Djallon, whose uplands feed several rivers. The headwaters of the Niger River are in Guinea, and the country sits at the convergence of the Senegal and Niger river basins. The climate is tropical, with a wet season and a dry season.

Historically, Guinea was a French colony known as French Guinea. It gained independence in 1958 after choosing to sever ties with France. Since independence, the country has experienced periods of political instability and military rule, including a 2021 coup that toppled President Alpha Condé and established a transitional military administration.

Guinea operates a multi-party system in principle, though governance has been shaped by the role of the military during the transition. International actors have supported constitutional reform and electoral timelines.

Economy is driven by mining, particularly bauxite, as well as gold and diamonds. Agriculture provides livelihoods for many, and the Guinean franc is the currency. Development challenges include infrastructure gaps, energy shortages, and dependence on commodity prices, though mining offers growth potential.

Society centers on French as the official language, with local languages such as Susu, Fula, and Malinke widely spoken. Islam is the predominant faith, with Christian and indigenous beliefs also present. The population is young, urbanization is increasing, and education access varies.