Conakry, Guinea

Conakry is the capital of the West African nation of Guinea and the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the country. Originally established on Tombo Island, a small island off the coast of Guinea, modern Conakry also occupies the Kaloum Peninsula on mainland Guinea. Conakry is the site of many of Guinea's national museums and administrative buildings,and also houses more than a quarter of Guinea's population. Guinea is also referred to as Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, a West African country north of Guinea.

Landscape

The Republic of Guinea is located on the Atlantic coast of Africa and borders Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Mali and Sierra Leone. The nation's coastline stretches for 320 kilometers (199 miles). Guinea also contains portions of many of Africa's major rivers, including the Niger, the Fatala, and the Rio Nunez. Export along these rivers played a major role in encouraging immigration and settlement during the formation of the nation.

The coastal region, which includes the capital, is lined with swamps that blend into a sedimentary plain; mangrove forests are also common. Conakry is divided into two parts, generally known as Conakry 1 and Conakry 2, which are connected by an ocean bridge. The oldest portion, Conakry 1, is located on the largest of a small group of volcanic islands known as the Iles de Los. Conakry 2 is located on the Camayenne or Kaloum Peninsula. The Konkoure River, located north of the city, is used to generate hydroelectric power for Conakry.

Much of Conakry was designed and built during the French colonial period in the mid- to late nineteenth century. The central area of the city is laid out in a series of grids with wide streets connecting public green spaces. Conakry is part of the Conakry Region, which includes peripheral towns, satellite cities, and extensive suburban communities. Architecture in Conakry is a blend of traditional African housing, modern structures, and colonial French buildings.

Conakry is divided into five districts. The central district, known as Kaloum, is the site of Conakry's largest administrative and financial areas. The Ratoma and Dixinn districts are alongside the central area and feature mixed residential and commercial spaces where much of Conakry's entertainment is found. The districts of Matam and Matoto are located in the western part of the city and are primarily residential.

There is significant climatic variation across Guinea, though the coastal zone remains humid year-round and maintains an average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit). The maritime area receives the majority of its rain between July and August, which is the monsoon season. From August to June the coastal region experiences a relatively dry season, though light rain is common.

Guinea's fishing industry and coastal communities have been affected by climate change, which has caused rising sea levels and warmer water temperatures. Increased droughts caused by climate change have affected the country's agriculture and water supply.

People

According to the Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook in 2022, as of 2022 the population of Conakry was 2.049 million, making it the most populous city in Guinea. Most Guineans are descendents of various African ethnic groups, including the Peuhl and Malinke, which together account for more than 60 percent of the population. In Conakry, the population is more diverse, with small numbers of immigrants and expatriates representing European and other African ethnic groups.

French is the primary language in Guinea and is used for all administrative and educational purposes. Education is not compulsory in many parts of the nation, and only about 39.6 percent of the population is literate, according to a 2018 estimate by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In Conakry, education is more common and the literacy rate is higher due to the availability of basic educational services. There are a variety of secondary languages used in Conakry specific to the various African ethic groups in residence.

Islam is the most popular religion in Guinea; more than 89 percent of the population is Muslim. Islamic holy days are recognized by the state and serve as a focus for community organization. Urban Conakry hosts a more diverse religious compliment, with groups of Christians and those practicing animism and other tribal beliefs living in the city.

Conakry is not considered a major tourist location and thus has few amenities to accommodate tourists. The beaches around Conakry are generally not suitable for swimming due to pollution and dangerous geological features such as large volcanic rocks, but during the dry season, residents often travel to the Ilhe de Los, where there are several beaches suitable for swimming and boating.

In Septemeber 2021 The country's president, Alpha Conde, was overthrown in a coup by Mamady Doumbouya, the commander of the country's special forces, who accused Conde of corruption, human rights abuses, and mismanagement. Doumbouya set up the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development to transition the country to a democracy among other changes. As of early 2024, Doumbouya remained in charge of Guinea.

Economy

The Republic of Guinea is rich in natural resources and has a productive agricultural sector. The mining industry contributes the majority of the nation's exports. Despite resource wealth, Guinea is a poor country with rampant poverty. In 2021, about 47.7 of the nation's residents lived below the poverty line, according to the World Bank in 2023. While there are more options for employment in Conakry, poverty remains a major problem, and many of the city's residents live in poor conditions without access to significant or basic amenities, healthcare, and services.

As the nation's principal shipping port, Conakry benefits from export revenues and peripheral businesses, including refinement and processing of export commodities. The nation's chief exports are bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron, and refined metal, of which aluminum is the most important. Farms in rural areas produce coffee, rice, and a variety of tropical fruits including pineapple, cassava, and bananas.

Due to a lack of investment, Conakry's infrastructure is in dire need of repair. In 2006 and 2007, Conakry residents engaged in violent protests in an effort to bring attention to the needs of the city. One of the most pressing problems is a lack of adequate electricity. Much of the city's electricity is derived from hydroelectric plants. In 2015, the 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam became operational and increased Conakry residents' access to electricity. Overcrowding and poor healthcare have also led to health problems in Conakry's suburban neighborhoods, which have experienced outbreaks of cholera and other communicable diseases. An Ebola virus epidemic that struck Guinea in 2014–15, and spread to Conakry in March 2014, undercut the nation's economic growth.

Landmarks

Conakry 1, located on Tombo Island, is a popular location for residents and visitors. The island offers beach resorts, swimming, and water sports, but few visit the island outside of the dry season from October to May. As the oldest part of the city, Conakry 1 also has a majority of the city's historic buildings and landmarks.

The Botanical Gardens in Conakry are famous for their extensive collections of tropical plants. First established by the French, the gardens also contain small collections of imported and international flora and provide a location for education and study of the native ecosystem.

The Guinea National Museum, located in the central district, features exhibits detailing the nation's history. Its collections include art and artifacts from the region's original tribal inhabitants. The National Museum, National Archive, and Conakry Library were all established after the nation gained its independence in 1958 and are of modern design.

Conakry's Grand Mosque attracts significant numbers of visitors each year and also provides religious services for the local population. The Roman Catholic Cathedral in Conakry was established during the French occupation and still serves the city's small Catholic population. Some visitors to Conakry visit the city's governmental buildings, including the Palais du People, (People's Palace). Most of Conakry's administrative buildings are modern, having been constructed after independence.

History

The first travelers to visit Guinea were members of the Berber ethnic group who visited the coast and the nearby islands as early as the eighth century CE. Small settlements existed along the Guinean coast until the Peuhl, a nomadic group with ethnic ties to the Sudanese, claimed the area in the eighteenth century, after eliminating or absorbing the existing inhabitants.

European encroachment began in the fifteenth century, and Guinea became central to the slave trade as local tribes, including the Peuhl, traded with Portugal, France, and England. In 1887, France claimed control of the country, through an agreement with Britain, and named the territory French Guinea in 1891. The French built the city of Conakry on Tombo Island in 1890. Within a few years, the French expanded out from Tombo, building a new city, in a typical grid format, on the nearby peninsula. In the twentieth century, France concentrated on developing the city into a thriving export community. As the slave trade was abandoned in the mid-nineteenth century, mining and agriculture became the city's primary exports and the focus of the colonial economy.

In the 1950s, native Guineans began developing an independence movement, prompting France to meet with leaders to discuss the nation's future. France offered a choice of autonomy under France or independence, and the leader of the largest independence party chose complete independence from France. Without aid from France, the prosperity of Conakry and Guinea began to decline, and the civilian government was overthrown in a military coup. Under military rule, Guinea adopted a socialist system and maintained a relatively stable government, though poverty, and popular unrest threatened lasting stability.

In the early to mid-1990s, Guinea was one of the poorest nations in the world. As Conakry's infrastructure deteriorated, the relationship between the city's population and the local and national government deteriorated. Popular dissent culminated in a mass protest in 2007, precipitating a military invasion of the city and thousands of deaths. Though government intervention temporarily eased tensions, persistent poverty in Conakry continued to threaten national stability. Following the death of President Lansana Conté in 2008, Guinea again fell under military control, and political unrest continued for several years. President Alpha Conde was elected in 2010. In 2013, Guineans again took to the streets to protest the lack of fair and transparent elections. The National Assembly was seated in 2014. In an election on October 2015, Conde was reelected to a second five-year term. Although the government and opposition were able to hold a dialogue in 2016 to address long-standing tensions, some local elections held in 2018 were disputed.

Bibliography

Camara, Mohamed Saliou, Thomas O'Toole, and Janice E. Baker. Historical Dictionary of Guinea. Rowman, 2013.

Demographia World Urban Areas. Demographia, 2014.

"Guinea." Millennium Development Goals Indicators. United Nations Statistics Division, 2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2014.

"Guinea." World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency, 20 Feb. 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guinea/. Accessed 26 Feb. 2024.

Philipps, Joschka. Ambivalent Rage: Youth Gangs and Urban Protest in Conakry, Guinea. L'Harmattan, 2013.

"Poverty and Equity Brief Africa, Western and Central Guinea." World Bank, Apr. 2023, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext‗download/poverty/987B9C90-CB9F-4D93-AE8C-750588BF00QA/current/Global‗POVEQ‗GIN.pdf. Accessed 26 Feb. 2024.