About Guinea

The Republic of Guinea (Rpublique de Guine) is a nation in northwest Africa. It borders Guinea-Bissau and Senegal on the north, Mali on the north and north-east, the Ivory Coast on the south-east, Liberia on the south, and Sierra Leone on the west. The country is divided into four geographic regions: A narrow coastal belt (Lower Guinea); the pastoral Fouta Djallon highlands (Middle Guinea); the northern savanna (Upper Guinea); and a southeastern rain-forest region (Forest Guinea). The coastal region of Guinea and most of the inland have a tropical climate, with a rainy season lasting from April to November, relatively high and uniform temperatures, and high humidity. Conakry's year-round average high is 85F, and the low is 74F; its average annual rainfall is 169 inches. Sahelian Upper Guinea has a shorter rainy season and greater daily temperature variations.

Guinea is richly endowed with minerals, possessing an estimated one-third of the world's proven reserves of bauxite, more than 1.8 billion metric tons of high-grade iron ore, significant diamond and gold deposits, and undetermined quantities of uranium. Guinea also has considerable potential for growth in the agricultural and fishing sectors. Land, water, and climatic conditions provide opportunities for large-scale irrigated farming and agroindustry.

Guinea became independent from France in 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana Cont (head of the military government) was elected president in disputed balloting. Reelected in 1998, the President faced growing criticism in 1999 for his jailing of a major opposition leader and widespread economic unrest. Nationwide strikes and general unrest in Guinea due to the poor economic conditions continue to threaten Guinea's stability.

For more information on Guinea please see:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gv.html
Or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea