Guinea

Main article: Africa

Population

Main article: Population of Africa

Ethnic groups: fulbe, raspberry, susu, forest

Although all ethnic groups of Guinea -

• fulbe,
• raspberry,
• susu,
• forestier ("forest") -

long ago mixed, shared surnames, eating the same rice dishes and practicing Islam, they are still divided by the abyss: habits, worldview, career and spiritual searches, ethical codes.

Migration

2021: Net outflow over 4 years

Overweight

Mortality

Traffic safety

Foreign policy

2023: Refusal to condemn Russia in Ukraine conflict

Economy

ECOWAS membership

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organization established in 1975 to strengthen economic cooperation between West African countries .

GDP $865 per person

Inflation

2022: Inflation in November - 12.4%

Iron ore mining

A Chinese-backed consortium won a multibillion-dollar iron ore mining contract in Guinea in November 2019.

Societe Miniere de Boke and Winning Shipping (SMB-Winning) offered $14 billion to develop an iron ore project in Guinea, displacing the Australian Fortescue Metals Group, which offered only $9 billion.

The consortium has committed to developing 2 blocks of the largest deposit, Simandu, which contains more than two billion tons of high-quality ore. Guinea could not begin developing it due to protracted legal disputes.

The government required bidders to build a 650km railway and deep water port to transport ore from the south-east of the country to the coast for subsequent export.

SMB-Winning plans to begin development within five years of ratification of the agreement.

Agriculture

2019: Low use of pesticides in agriculture

Consumption

2023: Fish consumption is higher than meat consumption

2019: High rice consumption: 156 kg per person per year

2018: Consumption of 50 kg of vegetables per year per capita

Power

Electrification

Guinea IT Market

2022: More than 1 start-up

Energy carriers

2020: Energy consumption per capita

and

Foreign trade

2023:34% of wheat supplies come from Russia and Ukraine

2022: China is the biggest export destination

Education

Percentage of people who can read

Health care

2021: Maternity leave

in

2020

Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave 6 months or more

Part of the population defecates on the street

Crime

Prisons

2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 10

2018: Number of prisoners per 100 thousand citizens

History

2024

Mamadi Dumbuya is ousting the opposition. Union strike and new PM - Economist Amadou Uri Ba

Since the overthrow of Alf Conde and the coming to power of Lieutenant Colonel Mamadi Dumbuya by March 2024, the authorities have not presented a coherent plan for the transition to civilian rule, promised by 2024, and soon dissolved the "National Front for the Defense of the Constitution," which played a key role in the fall of Conde. A number of opposition politicians, activists and journalists were arrested, and long-term opposition leaders - Selu Dalein Diallo and Sidia Toure - were forced to leave the country under pressure from the authorities, while Diallo's house was confiscated and then immediately - and demonstratively - bulldozed.

One of the most significant events was the general indefinite strike of trade unions in Guinea, announced on February 26 and supported by the opposition. Created in 2009, the Live Forces Forum coalition, which brings together 13 of the largest industry trade unions, opposition parties and civil society organizations, called for action amid concern about the rise of authoritarianism.

The trade unions put forward a number of demands to the military authorities, including the immediate release of the head of the Independent Press Union, Sekou Jemal Pendess, who was in custody for a little over a month, the abolition of censorship restrictions and blocking on the Internet and in the media, as well as the implementation of agreements concluded in November 2023 to improve wages and working conditions and reduce prices for essential goods.

Pendessa was detained on January 19 and sentenced on February 23 to six months in prison for calling for participation in a rally against censorship restrictions in the press - since July 2022, mass events have been banned in the country. A new round of restrictions due to "security problems" since December provoked a surge in discontent and was partially weakened only on the night of February 23, when many Internet resources were again launched.

The strike, which was not without loss of life, paralyzed the mining sector, business activity of the capital for three days, banks and schools were closed. However, the protest leaders agreed to suspend the strike immediately after the authorities satisfied the main condition of negotiations with the government - the release of Jemal Pendess. After that, the unions agreed to engage in dialogue with Mamadi Dumbuya over the rest of the demands.

On the second day of the strike, a new prime minister was approved - economist Amadou Uri Ba, who promised to resolve the problems with the trust of citizens. However, apparently, it has been destroyed for a long time.

The conflict with trade unions marks a disintegration of political consensus, as in Guinea, trade unions are one of the most important forms of political self-organization, wrote Zangaro Today. Unlike parties that have discredited themselves with tribalism, trade unions extend influence far beyond the narrow stratum of workers and employees, including the informal sector of the economy, and have a wealth of experience in opposing the authorities since the era of Lansan Conte, especially in 2007 and in 2008: the January-February 2007 general strike killed 186 people and was the biggest shock to Conte's regime.

Government dismissed, bank accounts of its members frozen and passports seized

The government, approved in July 2022, was paralyzed due to the friction of Prime Minister Bernard Guma with Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright. The last straw was the devastating explosion at Conakry's main oil storage facility on the night of December 17-18, 2023, after which fuel prices soared in the capital and commercial activity was disrupted, which already suffered from Internet censorship. In total, blockages in 2023 cost the country $47.4 million. Against the background of the social crisis on February 19, 2024, the government was dismissed, the bank accounts of its members were frozen, and passports were seized.

2023

Former President Moussa Dadis Kamara's prison defection

Reuters journalists write that on the morning of November 4, 2023, former President Moussa Dadis Kamara fled from a prison in the city center in the capital of Guinea, Conakry.

Moussa Dadis Kamara has been Guinea's military leader since 2008. However, in 2009, an attempt was made on him, and he fled to Morocco. In 2021, while trying to return to his homeland, he was charged with the brutal suppression of the 2009 protests, during which more than 150 people were killed by law enforcement officers, and over 1,200 civilians were injured of varying severity.

Since September 2022, he has been in custody at the central prison in Conakry, accused by the current government of orchestrating massacres and rapes in the 2009 crackdown on protests.

On the morning of November 4, 2023, social networks began to receive reports of shooting in the administrative center of the capital, and unidentified armed people were seen in the prison area. After some time, the army cordoned off the center of Conakry and tried to detain the intruders.

Despite attempts to prevent escape, Moussa Dadis Kamara, his closest associates and their "saviors" managed to escape from the security forces.

A little later, Guinean Minister of Justice Charles Alphonse Wright confirmed the information about the escape. He also announced that Guinea is closing the borders and taking the capital into a cordon to catch the escaped.

Blocking social networks, instant messengers and the media due to their criticism of the military authorities

Starting in May 2023, the authorities, without explanation, imposed restrictions on access to the most popular social networks (Facebook, Instagram (both banned in Russia), TikTok, WhatsApp) and news sites, suspended the broadcasting of a number of television and radio stations (Djoma FM, FIM FM, Espace FM), presumably due to criticism of the military authorities.

2021: The military seized power and suspended the constitution. The rise to power of Colonel Mamadi Dumbuya

In September 2021, aluminum ($2,752) rose to its highest level in more than a decade as a coup attempt in Guinea fuels supply fears.

Some of the military seized power and suspended the constitution, and the head of the special forces, Colonel Mamadi Dumbuya, called on the army to support him.

That shook global aluminum markets - prices in London hit a new 10-year high and futures in China climbed to their highest since 2006 - as political instability in Guinea raises the possibility of bauxite supply disruptions.

2020

Change in the text of the constitution after voting for its adoption

On March 22, 2020, Guineans went to the ballot boxes and almost 92% of the vote expressed approval of the draft basic law. At the same time, a parliament loyal to Conde was elected, two-thirds staffed by the "Union of the Guinean People." The price paid by the Guineans for Conde's ambitions turned out to be high - dozens of victims and injuries, an attempt at military rebellion and harsh criticism from the countries Europe and. USA

But Conde's success is not only due to the manipulation and resource of the ruling OGN, strong in Upper Guinea. There really was a lot of good in the draft adopted constitution. But it soon became clear that the Guineans still slipped the wrong document. Published on April 14 in the Journal of the Office, the text of the basic law turned out to be somewhat... to others.

Social measures, fortunately, have not gone anywhere. But independent candidates can no longer be nominated for elected positions. And most importantly, the powers of the president have grown. Thus, the signing of laws of regional importance has now become the prerogative of the president, not the prime minister. And while the country's Ministry of Justice was silent under the onslaught of the advocacy community, Water Minister Papa Koli Kuruma spoke as a "whipping boy." According to him, there is still no final version of the constitution - it was developed both before and after approval in a referendum (!).

The ideology of "stability," which has become the hallmark of Russian political consultants operating in African countries, has found grateful students in the person of the Guinean establishment, traditionally rebellious to the West. Nevertheless, domestically, many are insanely tired of the ten-year rule of Alpha Conde. Conde's experienced politician managed to do a lot, and leave now - the name of the first democratically elected president would be written in gold letters in the history of the country. But the elderly president's battery of political creativity has long sat down.

And the main thing was not done by him - the powers between Fulbe businessmen and Mandinka administrators (Conde ethnic group) were not adequately divided, in connection with which the Fulba "Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea" - the basis of the "unconstitutional" Front - went into tough opposition to Conde. Worse, the discontent of Fulbe Muslims is accompanied by creeping radicalization - and this is in a country where Christians go to mosques and Muslims go to churches. Finally, Conde fell out with the Guinean diaspora - one of the largest in the world, which controls regional trade and invests huge funds in the development of his homeland.

Problems with trade unions, labor legislation and wages have not been resolved - the standard of living of working Guineans has not been growing for a long time.

Guinea at Conde - outpost of the Russian presence in Africa

By 2020, Guinea is often called Oleg Deripaska's private colony. The largest employers - Rusal and Nordgold - are just the tip of the iceberg, hiding more than a dozen Russian and Russian-Kazakh mining, construction and engineering firms. And unlike the CAR, where Russians, represented at the level of military advisers, never managed to become a third force, in Guinea they have a serious influence on political decision-making - roughly like the United States in Liberia.

Conde, who has turned the majority of the population against himself, is perceived as a "puppet of Moscow." And she has many dangerous competitors in the country, including Turkey and China.

Conde and his Moscow allies also want to leave, France for which the complete restoration of neo-colonial control over the rebellious colony became idée fixe. Since the 1960s Paris. literally flooded the neighboring one with money - Kot-d in many ways then to show Guinea how much it has lost from choosing a non-capitalist path of development and refusal to integrate into Francophonie.

Two people shot dead by police in actions against the third term of the president

In mid-January 2020, Guinea is gripped by unrest over a possible constitutional change to keep incumbent President Alpha Conde for a third term. He has been head of state since December 2010.

On January 14, demonstrators threw stones at two police stations in the city of Pita, and then set them on fire, stealing weapons and food.

President Alfe Conde, 82, intends to rewrite the constitution soon in order to run for a third term and, apparently, die in office.

Since 2000, 30 African leaders have tried to change the constitution to extend their powers, but only 18 have succeeded. The elderly Conde also took this dangerous path. In the past - a left-wing radical activist, human rights activist, political prisoner and professor at the Sorbonne. Now - a strong supporter of "long-term projects." His ambitions were opposed by the opposition, religious leaders and influential trade unions, united under the auspices of the "National Front for the Defense of the Constitution."

Due to bloody clashes and thousands of demonstrations, the economy is paralyzed, and the point of bifurcation should be a constitutional referendum, scheduled for March 1 simultaneously with the vote in parliament, the Zangaro Today telegram channel notes.

The trajectory of events is unpredictable, so the Honorary Doctor of MGIMO and RUDN University turned for help to his closest ally - Vladimir Putin, with whom he had a private conversation on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa summit.

According to Bloomberg, his new consultant, former diplomat and military intelligence officer Viktor Boyarkin, who worked as the head of the Rusal security service, the country's largest employer, helps extend the powers of Alpha Conde.

Alpha Conde is not the worst president, and there is not much good in the draft of his new constitution: compulsory primary education, prohibition of the death penalty, forced marriage and female circumcision, gender balance in government, assistance to young people and much more. Conde is a competent and hardworking politician, with him it became truly safe in Guinea, and he tried in every possible way to avoid bloodshed in friction with the opposition. For a country built on a complex system of corporate, clan and patronage networks, this is a great achievement. The problem is that people are tired of Conde and even more tired of waiting for change: despite solid economic growth and investment growth, living standards and wages are practically not growing.

Fulbe - the country's largest people - opposes President Conde's third term

The biggest problem for the president of the country is that the largest people of the country - Fulbe - scattered across Africa and the world cosmopolitans and enterprising businessmen - are decently tired of Conde - they have endured a lot from previous regimes and are seeking full representation in power. And since their traditional religious leaders are people of the system, young people begin to look towards the "bad guys" at the Toyotas from Mali and Burkina Faso, look into the Wahhabi schools and mosques sponsored by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and dream of the revival of the ancient jihadist power Fulbe - Futa Jallon.

2019:9 dead in protests against third term president

Since the fall of 2019, opposition forces united in the National Front in Defense of the Constitution have opposed the adoption of a new constitution, presumably opening the way for 82-year-old President Alpha Conde to a third term.

In October 2019, the Guinean government confirmed the deaths of 9 citizens during demonstrations against possible constitutional amendments that could allow President Alpha Conde to remain for a third term.

Police opened fire on demonstrators as they blocked roads with burning tires.

According to the opposition, 10 people died. The death toll includes men under 30, including a 14-year-old schoolboy.

1958: The French destroy everything that cannot be taken with them: schools, cars, agricultural machinery. Cows and horses killed

When Sekou Touré of Guinea decided to withdraw from the French colonial empire in 1958 and declared the country's independence, the colonial elite in Paris became enraged. The French administration in Guinea destroyed everything in the country that they believed was the benefit of colonization.

Three thousand French left the country, taking all their property and destroying everything that could not be taken: schools, kindergartens, administration buildings were destroyed; cars, books, medicines, various devices and agricultural machinery were rendered unusable; horses, cows on farms were killed, and food in warehouses burned or poisoned.

The goal was to make it clear to all other colonies that the consequences of rejection France would be very great.

1914

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2022: The most popular sport is football

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