Map:

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band 

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone 

Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W 

Climate:  generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds 

Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France) 

Nationality: Guinean(s)

Capital City: Conakry

Population: 7,466,200 (July 2000 est.)

Head of State: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) 

Area: 245,857 sq km

Type of Government:  republic 

Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes 

Major peoples: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% 

Religion: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Official Language:  French 

Principal Languages: French, Peuhl, etc., each ethnic group has its own language

Major Exports: bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products 

History: Both the Fouta Djallon and the Niger plains have long been sites of human settlement.  Areas of today's Guinea were part of the major historical kingdoms of Ghana in the 11th century, and SONGHAI in the 16th century.  Numerous independent states developed in the 18th and 19th centuries.  The powerful feudal Muslim Fulani (or Peuhla) state dominated the region until it was destroyed by French rule.
France prevailed over Britain in competition for trade and territory in the area after 1897.  French efforts to consolidate their territorial control inland were slowed by the armies of Samori, a Muslim leader who gathered the southern Malinke people to resist the French and became a legend.  In 1895 the area of Guinea was incorporated into FRENCH WEST AFRICA, with its boundaries drawn by the French.
After World War II, trade union leader Sekou Toure helped to found and lead the nationalist Parti Democratique de Guinee (PDC), which swept elections there.  Toure was a fiery nationalist facing a reluctant decolonizing power.  Under his leadership Guinea was the only West African colony to reject continued association with France in a 1958 referendum choosing between full independence or membership in the French Community.
Initially isolated by a vengeful France, Guinea under Toure pressed for the independence of all African states and for radical socioeconomic changes in Guinea.  One-party domination, however, quickly became one man rule, as Toure brooked no opposition to the PDC and his policies.  Attempts to transform Guinea into a socialist state with few resources and inadequately trained manpower led to close political regulation of social and economic behavior, a deep suspicion of popular dissent, and the flight of hundreds of thousands of Guineans. Toure saw plots and enemies everywhere and was hostile to and attacked most ethnic and social groups in the country.
When Toure died in 1984, the Guinean military under Col. Lansana Conte seized power, ruling through the Military Committee of National Recovery (CMRN).  The CMRN banned Toure's PDG, released political prisoners, ended state surveillance, improved relations with Guinea's African neighbors, reopened Guinea to private capital and trade, and tried to revive the disintegrating economy.  Intra-ethnic conflict in the military fueled a coup attempt in 1985, which led to numerous secret executions.  After 1986, however, President Conte was able to implement economic reforms without serious conflict.  To deflect political pressure, Conte started a slow process of return to constitutional rule in 1988.  A new constitutlon approved by voters in December 1990 and the CMRN was replaced by a transitional civilian-military government chosen by Conte, who remained president.  The constitution, which provided for a two-party system, an elected unicameral legislature, an elected president limited to one five-year term as head of state, and a prime minister as head of government, was originally to become effective in 1995.  Facing popular protests by students, politicians, and others, and pressure from aid donors and Guineans in exile, Conte decided to introduce democratic rule sooner.  Political parties were legalized in April 1992. Legislative and presidential elections were scheduled for some time in 1993.