Government and Politics of Guinea

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou

Legal System

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: NA

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Mamadi DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021, following a military coup on 5 September 2021 that ousted President Alpha CONDE) head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024) cabinet: Transitional National Council serves as the legislative body; Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: Guinea is currently under a transitional military-led government; presidential elections have been promised but no confirmed date has been set; prior to the coup, the president was elected by popular vote for a five-year term and required a majority of votes cast to win election results: The most recent competitive presidential election was held on 18 October 2020, in which Alpha CONDE (RPG) was declared the winner with approximately 59.5% of the vote, a result disputed by opposition candidates; CONDE was subsequently removed from power in September 2021 by a military junta led by Colonel Mamadi DOUMBOUYA, who then assumed the role of head of state and was promoted to General

Legislative Branch

Guinea's legislature is unicameral, consisting of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale), which has 114 seats. Members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms. Legislative elections have had a turbulent history in Guinea. Following the military coup in September 2021, the National Assembly was dissolved by the ruling military junta, the National Committee of Rally and Development (CNRD), led by Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya. The junta suspended the constitution and assumed executive and legislative powers. A transitional charter was adopted in place of the constitution, and a National Transitional Council (CNT) was established to serve in a legislative capacity during the transition period. The CNT comprises 81 members appointed by the transitional government rather than elected by popular vote. As of the most recent available information, Guinea remains under transitional governance, and a timeline for the restoration of elected legislative institutions continues to be subject to negotiation between the junta and regional bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Full legislative elections have not yet been restored, and Guinea's political transition remains ongoing.

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political Parties

Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

Head of State

President Mamadi DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021, following a military coup on 5 September 2021 that ousted President Alpha CONDE)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Constitution

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23 FAX: [224] 41 15 22

Capital City

Conakry

Location

9 30 N, 13 42 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

According to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name Cona, a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word nakiri, which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri)," which over time became Conakry

Embassy Conakry The U.S. Embassy is located on the Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, opposite the New Radio Station in Ratoma, Conakry, Guinea. Telephone: 224-65-10-4000 Emergency after-hours telephone: 224-67-10-4311 Facsimile: 224-65-10-4297

Military Branches

National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee)

Service Age and Obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation