Capital: Conakry
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone (slightly smaller than Oregon).
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
U.S. citizens are encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, and to obtain updated information on travel and security in Guinea. The U.S. Embassy is located at 2nd Blvd. and 9th Ave. in Conakry. The mailing address is B.P. 603, Conakry, Guinea, tel. (224) 41-15-20/21/23, fax (224) 41-15-22, and on the Internet at http://www.eti-bull.net/usembassy/.
Background:
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 of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.
Ethnic Groups:
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Language:
French (official), each ethnic group has its own language
Currency:
GNF
Guinean franc (GNF)
Guinean francs per US dollar - 6,000.0 (March 2007), 1,855.0 (October 2000), 1,572.0 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996)
Climate:
Generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Population:
7,613,870 (July 2001 est.)
Religion :
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Medical:
Medical facilities are poorly equipped and extremely limited. Medicines are in short supply, sterility of equipment is questionable, and treatment is unreliable
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Safety:
Guinea has experienced occasional civil unrest in Conakry and in larger towns in all regions of the country. However, U.S. citizens have not been targeted in any demonstration-related unrest. Due to the potential for violence, U.S. citizens should avoid political rallies and street demonstrations and maintain security awareness at all times.
Despite the Guinean military's attempts to maintain strict control of its borders, instability in neighboring countries has created tense situations along Guinea's borders. Hostilities along Guinea's borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia escalated in late 2000 with renewed cross-border incursions and kidnappings by various armed factions.
As a result of continued military activity, the Department of State urges U.S. citizens to avoid the entire area between the national highway (which runs from Conakry to N'Zerekore) and the Sierra Leone/Liberia border, as well as the area south and east of Kissidougou. All U.S. Government and U.S. Government-affiliated personnel located in this area have been recalled to Conakry, and their travel to the region, particularly the Mamou to Macenta Road, is prohibited.
U.S. citizens contemplating travel to any region bordering Liberia or Sierra Leone are urged to consult the latest Consular Information Sheets for these countries, and to communicate with the U.S. Embassy in Conakry for the latest travel and security information. The crossing of borders requires complete paperwork, and visas and may be difficult to obtain.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Guinea is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside/Ambulance Assistance:
Poor
Drivers are poorly trained and routinely ignore road safety rules. Guinea's road network, both paved and unpaved, is underdeveloped and unsafe. Roads and vehicles are poorly maintained, and road signage is poor. Livestock and pedestrians create constant road hazards, and make nighttime travel inadvisable. Roads and vehicles are frequently unlit. Guinea has many roadblocks set up by the police or the military, making travel difficult after midnight in the city and between cities. There is no roadside assistance or any ambulance service in Guinea.
Guinea has no public transportation. Taxis, including small cars and larger vans, are often poorly maintained and overly-crowded. Taxis make frequent stops and starts without regard to other vehicles, making driving hazardous. Rental vehicles are available, often with drivers, from agencies at major hotels in Conakry.
