| 
The
Republic of Guinea (also
called: Guinea-Conakry) is located in Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Total
area: 245,860 sq. km
Bordering countries:
Guinea-Bissau over 386 km, Cote
d'Ivoire over 610 km, Liberia over
563 km, Mali over 858 km, Senegal
over 330 km, Sierra Leone over 652
km
Coastline: 320 km
Population:
7,405,375 (July 1997) 9,030,220 (July 2003 est.); Population growth
rate: 1.1% (1997); 2.37% (2003 est.)
Capital-City:
Conakry
Independence from France: October
2, 1958
National holiday: Anniversary of the
Second Republic: April 3 (1984)
Constitution
(Loi Fundamentale): December 23, 1990
President Lansana CONTE (head
of military government since 5 April 1984, elected President on December 19, 1993.
Reelected on December 14, 1998.
Natural resources:
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Agriculture
productions: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas,
sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Industrial
productions: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing
and agricultural processing industries. Industrial production growth
rate: 3.2% (1994)
In spite of being endowed with aplenty of
natural resources: water, forests and mineral deposits (30% of world's bauxite
ore), Guinea is listed according to UNDP as one of the poorest countries in the
world.
The main reason for that dated back
to the first years of the independence. The narrow and dogmatic political vision,
the sheer lack of economic training of the founding father: Ahmed Sekou Toure,
were simply real hindrances for the harmonious economic development of Guinea.
When in 1958, France decided to grant Self Government to its colonies in
Africa, the choice was between Self Government status - with Money matters,
International Relations and Defense under France's responsibility - or "immediate
independence".
On October 2, 1958, under the leadership of Ahmed
Sekou Toure - a self made man / trade unionist / populist politician - Guinea
singled out and chose "immediate independence".
Overnight
the country became independent.
French administrators, in Guinean
provinces / "Cercles", instantly dropped duties; withholding vital administrative
documents, maps, statistics. Etc. The local currency - the Franc CFA, common to
the members entities of the Afrique Occidentale Française - French
West Africa Territories: Benin (Dahomey), Niger, Ivory Coast,
Sudan Français (Mali), Senegal / Mauritania, Niger,
Upper-Volta (Burkina-Faso) - becoming de facto non valid. Click
here to choose / view countries briefs
Enthusiastic African scholars
and nationalists from other African countries flocked in to Guinea to assist the
new authorities manage the independence era. The euphoria lasted two years. End
of 1960 most of them have already left disillusioned by the autocratic, repressive
and dogmatic political management style adopted by Sekou Toure. Around 1962-1963
the country entered slowly into economic depression, which aggravated year upon
year. Till his death, on March 26, 1984, Sekou Toure deployed infinite skills
to survive alleged and true political plots. He was a populist politician; a survivor.
Not an economist. His legacy is still, one way or another,
having a certain impact on the social, cultural, economic and political life of
Guinea.
The new military regime that seized power on December 24, 2008, 48 hours after the death of Lansana Conte, is promising to held democratic and "transparent" elections / presidential ballot in year 2010. It is taking power from another military regime, led by Colonel Lansana Conte, that seized power 24 years ego - 1984 - at the death of Sekou Toure.
The government surrendered to the new regime. And everything seems to be in order at Conakry. The population accepting the coup as the least damaging occurrence - as the opposition is undermined with clashes and intrigues between its leaders, and is perceived as a non credible alternative.
So, after 27 years of "chaotic" civil rule by Sekou Toure - 1958-1984, and 24 years of more chaotic military rule by Lansana Conte - 1984-2008, the country is now embarking again in another military rule, led by junior officers and by Moussa Dadis Camara as top man/ president - an army captain, in his mid-40s, who was previously in charge of fuel supplies.
One thing is sure: The new regime inherits a broken economy that needs to be fixed fast, to avoid recurrent hunger riots and energy shortages. Can this regime do better than the one it is replacing? Time will tell, but one can doubts as most of ministerial positions will be still in the hands of people previously in charge in the last Lansana Conte's governments.
- No Strategic Planning to boost agriculture development
For five decades running, no strategic scheme had been devised to systematically exploit
to the maximum the huge agriculture potential of the country endowed with an incredible
hydropower system, to creating a strong agribusiness industry.
In
the contrary, Guinea's national budget relies heavily on revenues from the exploitation
of the mineral sector, which accounts, year in year out, for 75% of exports.
One also notices that the legal framework is not attractive enough to Foreign
Direct Investment. Indeed, the Mining Industry being an exception, foreign investment
remains minimal.
In addition, there is a persisting internal political
tension due to the fact that multiparty democracy had been constantly challenged by
President Lansana Conte.
What will be the practice of the new regime in that field? Time will tell.
Due to the huge natural resources, there are business opportunities in all sectors of economic activities.
Courtesy
of BusinessAfrica - Investment and Business Planners - Click
here for an economic strategic scheme suitable for Guinea which closely
links agriculture, industries and services.
TOP
|
- THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA-CONAKRY - 
. -
