September 20, 2023
Flag of Guinea
Guinea celebrates Independence, October 2, 2023
By Joy Osiagwu, Editorial Associate
Friday 29 September 2023
Guinea is one of the wealthiest countries in Western Africa because of its mineral wealth. Guinea is bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. The nation has nature reserves in the southwest. Guinea attained independence from France on October 2, 1958, and Sekou Toure became the first post-independence president and ruled under a dictatorial regime until he died in 1994.
A female, mining in Siguiri, Guinea. Photo: Wikipedia
After that, General Lansanaa Conte plotted a coup, took over the mantle of leadership, and continued in the same system of governance until he died in 2008 when Captain Moussa Dadis Camara led another military coup and suspended the constitution. He was exiled to Burkina Faso after he escaped an assassination attempt. Guinea held its first election in 2010, which saw the emergence of Alpha Conde as the winner of the presidential election. A new constitution came into being in 2020.
However, Col Mamady Doumbouya led another military coup, ousting Conde and establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation, which dissolved the government and the legislature. Doumbouya became the transition president in October 2021 and appointed Mohammed Beavogui, as the prime minister.
Guinea has a growing agricultural economy. Mining is the mainstay of the people, but the economy is susceptible to vulnerable climate change and infrastructure challenges. The primary agricultural products are rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. With a population of 13.2 million, Guinea has its capital in Conakry. The languages spoken are French, Arabic, English Susu, Maninka, and Pular.
Current Governance Structure
Guinea operates a Presidential system of governance. President Mamady Doumbouya has been the chief of state and transitional president since October 2021. Bernard Gomou has been the head of government and prime minister since August 2022, replacing Mohammed Beavogui, who stepped down due to health challenges. The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on individuals in the military government in response to the coup.
Trending News
The interim President of Guinea, Col Mamady Doumbouya, has advised the United Nations General Assembly to look deeper into the root causes of constant coups on the African continent rather than outright condemnation. He was speaking at the General Assembly of the 78 UNGA.
“The putschist is not only the person who takes up arms to overthrow a regime,” he told the world leaders in New York. “I want us all to be well aware that the real putschists, the most numerous, are those who avoid any condemnation — they are those … who cheat to manipulate the text of the constitution to stay in power eternally.” He noted.
APNews reports that Doumbouya described the coups as attempts by the military to save their nations from “broken promises.” Guinea is among the countries in West Africa that have experienced eight coups since 2020, not forgetting the latest entrants- Niger and Gabon, respectively.
Guinea Ottawa Connection
The Embassy of Canada to Senegal, in Dakar, takes care of the representation of Canada in Guinea. The Embassy of Guinea in Ottawa is located at 483 Wilboard Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N1, Canada. Phone: 613 789 8444. It also has Honorary Consuls in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver