In addition, Guinea is endowed with huge deposits of mineral resources. It has the largest deposits of bauxite and iron ore in the world and is a gold and diamond producer.
Its Atlantic shoreline supports a large-scale fishing industry and has developed large commercial harbors, such as Conakry and Kamsar. The Ziama Massif is part of the Guinean Highlands region; elevations rise nearly 1, m above sea level. This mountain range is characterized by rugged terrain with valleys, plateaus, rocky peaks… Sustainable forest management in Guinea The remaining forests and woodlands of Guinea play a critical role in preserving biodiversity in West Africa.
The Republic of Guinea. This was achieved on October 2, , after the Guinean people, following the leadership of the PDG, voted against association with France. Sekou Toure became the first president of the new Republic of Guinea.
In practice, Guinea became a one-party mobilization state. There was only opne legal political party. The government took a very active role int he economy through state agencies and long term planning. On March 27, , Toure died of a heart ailment. Only a week later the armed forces staged a coup.
After parliamentary elections planned for late and presidential elections in , Guinea was to return to civilian rule. Guinea was the first French colony in Africa to opt out of French rule, and has paid the price economically. Currently, it is the 2nd poorest country in the world, following neighboring Sierra Leone.
Traditional farmers make a living raising livestock, such as cattle and goats, and growing rice, cassava, millet, and a variety of crops. Cash crops include bananas, citrus, pineapples, coffee, peanuts, tobacco, cotton, and seeds, on a small scale.
Bauxite, diamonds, and gold are also important national products. Guinea has repeatedly made the top list of the most underdeveloped countries in the world, due largely to its low literacy rate and short life expectancy. The infant mortality rate is at per live births compared with an average of 10 per in developed countries.
The educational system was nationalized in Infant mortality is at per 1, births, maternal mortality at per compared to 10 in the U. Women have an average of 6. Life expectancy is The Peace Corps has been expelled from the country twice due to strained relations between Sekou Toure president until his death in and the United States.
Peace Corps returned to Guinea in The government continues to abuse human rights, although much progress has been made since the rule of Sekou Toure. Guinea achieved independence on Oct. Under Tour, the country was the first avowedly Marxist state in Africa. Diplomatic relations with France were suspended in , with the Soviet Union replacing France as the country's chief source of economic and technical assistance.
Prosperity came in after the start of exploitation of bauxite deposits. Tour was reelected to a seven-year term in and again in He died after 26 years as president in March A week later, a military regime headed by Col. Lansana Cont took power. In , President Cont announced that Guinea would move to a multiparty democracy, and in , voters approved a new constitution.
In Dec. In , a government referendum was passed that eliminated presidential term limits, thus allowing Cont to run for a third term in Despite the trappings of multiparty rule, Cont has ruled the country with an iron fist. Guinea has had ongoing difficulties with its neighbor Liberia, which was embroiled in a long civil war during the s and again in ?
As a consequence, President Cont's relations with Taylor remained sour after Taylor became Liberia's president in The fighting in Liberia spilled over the border into Guinea on several occasions. Sierra Leone's recent civil war also caused problems for neighboring Guinea. Already burdened by an inadequate infrastructure and a weak economy, an influx of nearly , refugees from Sierra Leone has overwhelmed the country. In April , after two months on the job, Prime Minister Lonseny Fall resigned and went into exile, claiming that the president would not allow him to govern effectively.
President Cont is in poor health, and many fear a power struggle should he die or be deposed. Anti-government demonstrators took to the streets in January and February , demanding that Cont step down. In addition, labor unions went on strike, paralyzing the country.
Cont, who has been criticized as being corrupt, responded by declaring martial law. The strike ended in late February when President Cont agreed to name diplomat Lansana Kouyat as prime minister.
More than people died in battles with security officials during the strike. Conte died in December after 24 years in power. Junior army leaders launched a bloodless coup shortly after his death. Many citizens, fed up with years of authoritarian rule, backed the coup.
Army captain Moussa Camara took over as "president of the republic. The council said its priorities would be to wipe out corruption and improve the quality of life in Guinea. In August , Camara called for presidential elections to be held in January , with parliamentary elections to follow in March, thus fulfilling a pledge to call elections within two years of assuming power. A month later, security forces opened fire at a pro-democracy demonstration at a Conakry stadium, killing nearly people.
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