West Africa.

GMT.

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

8.8 million (UN estimate 2005).

38 per sq km.

Conakry. Population: 1.1 million (2002).

The Republic of Guinea is located in West Africa and bordered to the northwest by Guinea-Bissau, the north by Senegal and Mali, the east by Côte d’Ivoire, the south by Liberia and the southwest by Sierra Leone. Guinea’s many rivers supply water to much of West Africa. The River Niger flows north from the southern highlands into Mali before turning south again through Niger and Nigeria. The coastal plain is made up of mangrove swamps, while inland are the Fouta Djalon hills which form several distinct ranges and plateaux over the whole of western Guinea. In the northeast, savannah plains of the Sahel region stretch into Mali. To the south are mountains known as the Guinea Highlands.

Republic since 1958. Gained independence from France in 1958.

Military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara since 2008.

Prime Minister Kabine Komara since 2008.

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.

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

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

220 volts, 50Hz.

Although Muslim customs are less strict than in the Arab world, beliefs and traditions should be respected by tourists. Casual dress is acceptable. Street crime is relatively common. It is important to greet people and ask them how they are before starting a conversation. Guineans always use titles when addressing others, so the visitor should do likewise (Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle etc). Photography: A permit (applied for in advance) has to be obtained from the Ministère de l’Intérieur et de la Sécurité when photographing Government buildings, military and transportation facilities or public works. It is inadvisable to photograph buildings at present, and visitors should always ask local people if they want to photograph them.