GOVERNMENT
Guinea is a constitutional republic in which effective power is concentrated in a strong presidency. Government administration is carried out at several levels; in descending order, they are: eight regions, 33 prefectures, over 100 subprefectures, and many districts (known as communes in Conakry and other large cities, and villages or "quartiers" in the interior). District-level leaders are elected; the president appoints officials to all other levels of the highly centralized administration. The president governs Guinea with the assistance of an appointed council of civilian ministers typically led by a prime minister.
The failing health of President Conté has been a cause of continuing concern. In late 2003, Conté fell ill during a trip to Japan and had to receive medical treatment in Morocco. However, in December 2003 Conté easily won a third presidential term against a single, relatively unknown candidate after the opposition parties boycotted the elections. Despite two medical evacuations in 2006, Conté insisted in a late 2006 interview that despite his health he would remain in office until his term ended in 2010.
In December 2005 Guinea held nation-wide elections for local and rural councils. In preparation for the election the government maintained an open dialogue with the opposition parties, 16 of which participated in the elections. Opposition leaders were allowed to campaign freely, and were allowed equal access to government-run media. The ruling PUP won 31 of 38 municipalities and 241 of 303 local councils. Though viewed as flawed, the 2005 elections were much improved over previous elections due to the use of transparent ballot boxes and other reforms. Legislative elections previously scheduled for June 2007 have been repeatedly delayed. Currently elections are expected in late 2008.
In late February and early March 2006, Guinea's labor union alliance launched a
historic general strike demanding wage increases and union participation in
Guinea's economic and social policy. Though the unions only won a modest salary
increases, the strike established them as a credible, unified, and powerful
force in Guinea. Due in part to the government's inability to control Guinea's
rising inflation, the trade unions launched a second general strike in June
2006. The second general strike was marked by more intense and widespread
violence, resulting in the deaths of several protesters at the hands of security
forces. The unions called for a third round of national strikes in January 2007,
after President Conté personally intervened to save a close associate from charges of corruption.
Whereas the unions' demands during the March and June 2006 strikes were
primarily economic, the January 2007 strike began with a political tone. In
addition to their economic agenda for improved wages and retirement benefits,
the unions called for Conté's retirement and the reinstatement of embezzlement charges against two of Conté's allies. After President Conté dismissed the unions' demands, protesters began barricading roads, throwing rocks, burning tires, and skirmishing with police. Violence throughout Guinea peaked on January 22 when several thousand ordinary Guineans poured into the streets calling for change. Guinean security forces and the military's "red beret" presidential guard reacted by opening fire on the peaceful crowds and killing dozens in Conakry and throughout Guinea.
On January 27, 2007, unions, employers associations, and the government entered
a tripartite agreement to suspend the strike. President Conté agreed to name a new "consensus" prime minister, with delegated executive powers. For the first time, the new prime minister of Guinea would carry the title of "head of government" and exercise certain powers previously held by the president of the republic. The government also agreed to new price controls for rice and fuel, as well a one-year ban on the exportation of food and fuel. However, President Conté's February 9 appointment of a longtime associate, Eugène Camara, as Guinea's new prime minister sparked another wave of violence and protests. In an attempt to quell the violence, on February 12 President Conté declared a "state of siege," which conferred broad powers on the military, and implemented a strict curfew. According to media reports, the following days saw military and police forces scour Conakry and towns in the hinterlands where they committed serious human rights abuses.
When Guinea's National Assembly rejected Conté's effort to extend the "state of siege," it became clear that the popular protests had widespread support, even among leaders of Conté's own ruling party. Soon after, an ECOWAS delegation led by former Nigerian President Babangida announced that President Conté had agreed to name a new "consensus" prime minister in consultations with the unions and civil society. Lansana Kouyaté arrived in Conakry on February 27, 2007, just hours after being announced as the new Prime Minister and head of the government. During his premiership, Kouyaté faced constant speculation that the president and his associates opposed his reform efforts. After 15 months in office, President Conté replaced Kouyaté with Ahmed Tidiane Souaré, a former minister of mines from a previous cabinet.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Gen. Lansana Conté
Prime Minister (Head of Government)--Ahmed Tidiane Souaré
Minister of Economy and Finance--Ousmane Doré
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Abdoul Kabèlè Camara
Minster of the Interior and Security--Dr. Mamadou Beau Kéita
Minister of National Education and Scientific Research--Dr. Ousmane Souaré
Minister of Defense--vacant
Ambassador to the United States--Mory Karamoko Kaba
Ambassador to the United Nations--Alpha Ibrahima Sow
Guinea
maintains an embassy in the United States at 2112 Leroy Place,
NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-483-9420) and a mission to
the United Nations at 140 E. 39th St., New York, NY 10016 (tel.
212-687-8115/16/17).
Type: Republic.
Constitution: 1990; amended 2001.
Independence: October 2, 1958. Anniversary of the Second Republic, April 3, 1984.
Branches: Executive--elected president (chief of state); prime minister (head of government); cabinet of civilian ministers. Legislative--elected National Assembly (114 seats). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: Region, prefecture, subprefecture, rural district.
Political parties: Pro-government--Party for Unity and Progress (PUP). Opposition--Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Union for Progress and Renewal (UPR), Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), Union for Progress of Guinea (UPG), Union of Republican Forces (UFR).
Suffrage: Universal over age 18.
Central government budget (2006): $642 million.
