Guinea Travel Guide

Guinea — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: West Africa.
Language: French is the official language. Susu, Malinké and Fula are local languages.
Area: 245,857 sq km (94,926 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT.
Electricity: 220 volts, 50Hz.
Population: 8.8 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density: 38 per sq km.
Capital City: Conakry. Population: 1.1 million (2002).
Government: Republic since 1958. Gained independence from France in 1958.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Marie Doré since 2010.
Head of State: Military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara since 2008.
Religion: The majority of the population are Muslim, with animist and Christian minorities.

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.

Communications

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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
15 Aug Assumption
31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
2 Oct Independence Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
6 Nov - 7 Nov Feast of Sacrifice
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
15 Aug Assumption
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
2 Oct Independence Day
25 Oct Feast of Sacrifice
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
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.