Guinea

République de Guinée

Note: Following the death of President Lansana Conté on December 22, 2008, a bloodless coup led by army Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara was staged on December 23. Camara was declared president on December 24, and he appointed Kabine Komara as prime minister on December 30.

Political Status: Independent republic since October 2, 1958; under one-party presidential regime until military coup of April 3, 1984; multiparty constitution approved by referendum of December 23, 1990, providing for five-year transition to civilian government.

Area: 94,925 sq. mi. (245,857 sq. km.).

Population: 7,156,406 (1996C); 9,929,000 (2007E). Both figures include refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone, estimated at 640,000 in 1996.

Major Urban Center (2005E): CONAKRY (1,478,000).

Official Language: French, pending adoption of Soussou or Malinké. (Six other tribal languages are ...