Guinea

Overview **//Guniea//**

Statistics population=9,806,509

Geography Guinea, in West Africa on the Atlantic, is also bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Slightly smaller than Oregon, the country consists of a coastal plain, a mountainous region, a savanna interior, and a forest area in the Guinea Highlands. The highest peak is Mount Nimba at 5,748 ft (1,752 m).

History
 * Beginning in 900, the Susu migrated from the north and began settling in the area that is now Guinea. The Susu civilization reached its height in the 13th century. Today the Susu make up about 20% of Guinea's population. From the 16th to the 19th century, the Fulani empire dominated the region. In 1849, the French claimed it as a protectorate. First called Rivières du Sud, the protectorate was rechristened French Guinea; finally, in 1895, it became part of French West Africa. **

Economy **Economic summary:** **GDP/PPP** (2007 est.): $10.69 billion; per capita $1,100. **Real growth rate:** 1.5%. **Inflation:** 22.9%. **Unemployment:** n.a. **Arable land:** 4%. **Agriculture:** rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber. **Labor force:** 3.7 million (2006); agriculture 76%, industry and services 24% (2006 est.). **Industries:** bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries. **Natural resources:** bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish. **Exports:** $998 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products. **Imports:** $838 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs. **Major trading partners:** Russia, Spain, France, Belgium, South Korea, US, Germany, Ireland, UK, Switzerland, Ukraine, China, Netherlands (2006).

Government**//__ The Coat of Arms for Guinea Guniea flag __//**


 * President:** Moussa Camara (2008)
 * Prime Minister:** Kabiné Komara (2008)

Religion
 * Religion:** 85% of Guinea is Islam, 8% is Christian, and 7% is Indigenous

Culture Spoken languages in Guniea are french, Malinké , Susu and Fulani

Social Problems Guinea has had ongoing difficulties with its neighbor Liberia, which was embroiled in a long civil war during the 1990s and again in 2000–2003. Guinea had taken sides against rebel leader Charles Taylor in Liberia's civil war and was part of the Nigerian-led ECOMOG forces that intervened in the crisis. As a consequence, President Conté's relations with Taylor remained sour after Taylor became Liberia's president in 1997. The fighting in Liberia spilled over the border into Guinea on several occasions. Sierra Leone's recent civil war also caused problems for neighboring Guinea. Already burdened by an inadequate infrastructure and a weak economy, an influx of nearly 300,000 refugees from Sierra Leone has overwhelmed the country

Other In Dec. 2003 President Conté was reelected to a third term. In April 2004, after two months on the job, Prime Minister Lonseny Fall resigned and went into exile, claiming that the president would not allow him to govern effectively. President Conté is in poor health, and many fear a power struggle should he die or be deposed. Anti-government demonstrators took to the streets in January and February 2007, demanding that Conté step down. In addition, labor unions went on strike, paralyzing the country. Conté, who has been criticized as being corrupt, responded by declaring martial law. The strike ended in late February when President Conté agreed to name diplomat Lansana Kouyaté as prime minister. More than 100 people died in battles with security officials during the strike.