Total Area:245,857 sq km Land Borders:Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau,
Population: 9,690,222 Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone
Life Expectancy: 50 years HIV % Total Poulation:3.2%
Ethnic Groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Languages:French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
President:Lansana CONTE GDP - Per Capita: $2,000
Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies