conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name "Cona," a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word "nakiri," which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri)," which over time became Conakry
Administrative divisions
7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore
Independence
2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Constitution
history: currently suspended on September 5, 2021 via t coup d’etat. On September 27, 2021 the Transitional Charter was released. It supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated. previous 1958, 1990, and 2010
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020
Legal system
civil law system based on the French model
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: na
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president
head of government: formerly, Prime Minister Mohamed BEAVOGUI (since 6 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government of Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory FOFANA dissolved
cabinet: formerly, the Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup on 5 September 2021 in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and legislature dissolved
elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, and on 1 October 2021,Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president
election results: in the election of 18 October 2020, Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%; note - following the military coup of 5 September 2021, coup leader Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president on 1 October 2021
Legislative branch
description: formerly the People's National Assembly; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 22 January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed
elections: 81 members to the Transitional National Council were appointed by the transitional president Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA on 22 January 2022; elections for a permanent legislature had not been announced as of late January 2022
election results: 81 members of the National Transitional Council appointed on 22 January 2022 by the transitional president; the members represent all of the country's socio-professional organizations and political parties
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies).
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; members serve single 9-year terms
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts
Political parties and leaders
Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO]
National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Vacant]
Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG (Jacques GBONIMY)
Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]
Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR [Alpha Oumar Taran DIALLO]
Modern Guinea [Thierno Yaya DIALLO]
Party for Progress and Change or PPC [Aboubacar Biro SOUMAH]
Rally for the Republic or RPR [Diabaty DORE]
Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP [Edouard Zoutomou KPOGHOMOU]
Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Francis HABA]
National Union for Prosperity or UNP [Alpha Mady SOUMAH]
Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC [Hamidou BARRY]
Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG [Mamadou SYLLA]
Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG [Amadou Oury BAH]
Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT [Makale TRAORE]
Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR [Bouya KONATE]
Front for the National Alliance or FAN [Makale CAMARA]
Alliance for National Renewal or ARN [Pepe Koulemou KOULEMOU]
Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG [Talibi Dos CAMARA]
Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP [Laye Souleymane DIALLO]
Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD [Abdoulaye DIALLO]
New Guinea or NG [Mohamed CISSE]
Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD [Nene Moussa Maleya CAMARA]
Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD [Abraham BOURE]
Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD [Elie KAMANO]
New Political Generation or NGP [Badra KONE]
African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE [Daniel KOLIE]
Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES [Ousmane KABA]
Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD [Abdoulaye KOUROUMA]
Democratic National Movement or MND [Ousmane DORE]
New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Abbe SYLLA]
Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP [Papa Koly KOUROUMA]
New Democratic Forces or NFD [Mouctar DIALLO]
Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]
National Front for Development or FND [Alhousseine Makanera KAKE]
Unity and Progress Party or PUP [Fode BANGOURA]
Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG [Jean Marc TELIANO]
Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA [Sekou Koureissy CONDE
Guinean Rally for Development or RGD [Abdoul Kabele CAMARA]
Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR [Ibrahima Sory CONDE]
Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
Citizen Generation or GECI [Mohamed SOUMAH]
Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Mamadou Baadiko BAH]
Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG [Siaka BARRY]
Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE [Aboubacar SOUMAH]
Ruling party
Guinea is currently lead by the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development, the transition government
(Comité national du rassemblement et du développement, CNRD)