Guinea Country & Tourist Information

Location
West Africa.

Area
245,857 sq km (94,926 sq miles).

Population
8.8 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
38 per sq km.

Capital
Conakry.
Population: 1.1 million (2002).

Government
Republic since 1958. Gained independence from France in 1958.

Language
French is the official language. Susu, Malinké and Fula are local languages.

Religion
The majority of the population are Muslim, with animist and Christian minorities.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
220 volts, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Kabine Komara since 2008.



Head of State
Military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara since 2008.

Recent History
Following the death of the long-serving Lansana Conté in December 2008, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara emerged as the leader of the group of army officers who seized power in a bloodless coup after the death of long-serving.

Conté was elected for a third term as president in December 2003 (after first holding a referendum in 2002 that officially removed the two-term limit on presidency). In February 2007 he appointed ex-diplomat Lansana Kouyate as prime minister following weeks of unrest and strikes over his original choice, Eugene Camara.

Telephone
Country code: 224. The communication is relatively poor and outgoing international calls must be made through the operator. Limited telephone and fax lines are usually available 1800-0600.

Mobile Telephone
There are several mobile phone operators. No roaming agreements have been declared.

Internet
Internet cafes are available in Conakry and Souleyman.

Media



Post
There are numerous post offices in the capital.

Press
• Newspapers include Horoya (official, daily), Le Lynx (satirical, weekly), L’Indépendant and La Lance (weekly), Journal Officiel de Guinée (official, fortnightly) and L’Evénement de Guinée (monthly).

Radio
• Radiodiffusion-Télévision Guinéenne (RTG) is the state-run national television and radio broadcaster.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
9 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
2 Oct Independence Day. 
1 Nov All Saints' Day. 
28 Nov Feast of Sacrifice.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
26 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). 
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
2 Oct Independence Day. 
1 Nov All Saints' Day. 
17 Nov Feast of Sacrifice.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Office National du Tourisme in Guinea
BP 1275, 6 Avenue de la République, Immeuble Al-Iman, Conakry, Guinea
Tel: 455 163.
Website: www.guinee.gov.gn or www.mirinet.net.gn/ont

Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in the USA
2112 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 986 4300.
Fax: (202) 986 4800.

Ambassade et Consulat de la République de Guinée in France
51, rue de la Faisanderie, Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4704 8148.


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