Guinea vs. Mali
Introduction
Guinea | Mali | |
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Background | Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea became independent from France, and Sekou TOURE established an authoritarian regime. TOURE ruled until his death in 1984. After TOURE's death, General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. CONTE organized and won presidential elections in 1993, 1998, and 2003. Upon CONTE's death in December 2008, Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In September 2009, presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally, killing more than 150 people. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections. CONDE's first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. In March 2020, Guinea passed a constitutional referendum that extended presidential terms and reset CONDE's term count, and later that year, Alpha CONDE won a controversial third presidential term. CONDE's current term will end in 2026. | Present-day Mali is named after the Mali Empire that ruled the region between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its peak in the 14th century, it was the largest and wealthiest empire in West Africa and controlled an area about twice the size of modern-day France. Primarily a trading empire, Mali derived its wealth from gold and maintained several goldfields and trade routes in the Sahel. The empire also influenced West African culture through the spread of its language, laws, and customs, but by the 16th century it fragmented into mostly small chiefdoms. The Songhai Empire, previously a Mali dependency centered in Timbuktu, gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. Under Songhai rule, Timbuktu became a large commercial center and well-known for its scholarship and religious teaching. Timbuktu remains a center of culture in West Africa today. In the late 16th century, the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan invaders and disintegrated into independent sultanates and kingdoms. France, expanding from Senegal, seized control of the area in the 1890s and incorporated it into French West Africa as French Sudan. In 1960, French Sudan gained independence from France and became the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the remaining area was renamed the Republic of Mali. Mali saw 31 years of dictatorship until 1991, when a military coup ousted the government, established a new constitution, and instituted a multi-party democracy. President Alpha Oumar KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who won a second term in 2007. In 2012, rising ethnic tensions and an influx of fighters - some linked to Al-Qa'ida - from Libya led to a rebellion and military coup. Following the coup, rebels expelled the military from the country's three northern regions, allowing terrorist organizations to develop strongholds in the area. With French military intervention, the Malian Government managed to retake most of the north. However, the government's grasp in the region remains weak with local militias, terrorists, and insurgent groups continuously trying to expand control. In 2015, the Malian Government and northern rebels signed an internationally mediated peace accord. Despite a June 2017 target for implementation of the agreement, the signatories have made little progress. Extremist groups were left out of the peace process, and terrorist attacks remain common. Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA won the Malian presidential elections in 2013 and 2018. Aside from security and logistic shortfalls, international observers deemed these elections credible. Terrorism, banditry, ethnic-based violence, and extra-judicial military killings plagued the country during KEITA's second term. In August 2020, the military arrested KEITA, his prime minister, and other senior members of the government and established a military junta called the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). In September 2020, the junta established a transition government and appointed Bah N'DAW, a retired army officer and former defense minister, as interim president and Colonel Assimi GOITA, the coup leader and chairman of the CNSP, as interim vice president. The transition government's charter allows it to rule for up to 18 months before calling a general election. |
Geography
Guinea | Mali | |
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Location | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone | interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger |
Geographic coordinates | 11 00 N, 10 00 W | 17 00 N, 4 00 W |
Map references | Africa | Africa |
Area | total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km | total: 1,240,192 sq km land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 sq km |
Area - comparative | slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania | slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
Land boundaries | total: 4,046 km border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km, Guinea-Bissau 421 km, Liberia 590 km, Mali 1062 km, Senegal 363 km, Sierra Leone 794 km | total: 7,908 km border countries (7): Algeria 1359 km, Burkina Faso 1325 km, Cote d'Ivoire 599 km, Guinea 1062 km, Mauritania 2236 km, Niger 838 km, Senegal 489 km |
Coastline | 320 km | 0 km (landlocked) |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | none (landlocked) |
Climate | generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds | subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February) |
Terrain | generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior | mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast |
Elevation extremes | highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 472 m | highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m lowest point: Senegal River 23 m mean elevation: 343 m |
Natural resources | bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt | gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower, note, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited |
Land use | agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 34.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 28.4% (2018 est.) forest: 10.2% (2018 est.) other: 55.7% (2018 est.) |
Irrigated land | 950 sq km (2012) | 3,780 sq km (2012) |
Natural hazards | hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season | hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding |
Environment - current issues | deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of pasture land; inadequate supplies of potable water |
Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
Geography - note | the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands | landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan |
Total renewable water resources | 226 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 120 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Population distribution | areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map | the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
Guinea | Mali | |
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Population | 12,877,894 (July 2021 est.) | 20,137,527 (July 2021 est.) |
Age structure | 0-14 years: 41.2% (male 2,601,221/female 2,559,918) 15-24 years: 19.32% (male 1,215,654/female 1,204,366) 25-54 years: 30.85% (male 1,933,141/female 1,930,977) 55-64 years: 4.73% (male 287,448/female 305,420) 65 years and over: 3.91% (male 218,803/female 270,492) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 47.69% (male 4,689,121/female 4,636,685) 15-24 years: 19% (male 1,768,772/female 1,945,582) 25-54 years: 26.61% (male 2,395,566/female 2,806,830) 55-64 years: 3.68% (male 367,710/female 352,170) 65 years and over: 3.02% (male 293,560/female 297,401) (2020 est.) |
Median age | total: 19.1 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.4 years (2020 est.) | total: 16 years male: 15.3 years female: 16.7 years (2020 est.) |
Population growth rate | 2.76% (2021 est.) | 2.97% (2021 est.) |
Birth rate | 35.86 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 41.6 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Death rate | 8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Net migration rate | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -3.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
Infant mortality rate | total: 50.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 62.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 67.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population: 63.53 years male: 61.7 years female: 65.42 years (2021 est.) | total population: 62.01 years male: 59.81 years female: 64.28 years (2021 est.) |
Total fertility rate | 4.89 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 5.63 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 1.4% (2020 est.) | 0.9% (2020 est.) |
Nationality | noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean | noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian |
Ethnic groups | Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.) | Bambara 33.3%, Fulani (Peuhl) 13.3%, Sarakole/Soninke/Marka 9.8%, Senufo/Manianka 9.6%, Malinke 8.8%, Dogon 8.7%, Sonrai 5.9%, Bobo 2.1%, Tuareg/Bella 1.7%, other Malian 6%, from members of Economic Community of West Africa 0.4%, other 0.3% (2018 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 110,000 (2020 est.) | 110,000 (2020 est.) |
Religions | Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other 0.1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.) | Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist .7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths | 3,300 (2020 est.) | 4,600 (2020 est.) |
Languages | French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language | French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peuhl/Foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.) note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language |
Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 30.4% male: 38.1% female: 22.8% (2015) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 46.2% female: 25.7% (2018) |
Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever (2016) note: on 14 February 2021, the Guinea government declared an outbreak of Ebola in N'Zerekore; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Travel Advisory recommending travelers avoid non-essential travel to Guinea; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person's blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis |
Food insecurity | severe localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls of cereal production - despite overall favorable food security conditions, the most vulnerable households still need external food assistance; the aggregate number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 267,000 during the lean season between June and August 2020; it is very likely that the number of food insecure population increased with the impact of COVID-19 (2021) | severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity - according to the latest analysis, about 1.37 million people are estimated to be in a food "Crisis" in the June-August 2021 period as a result of the escalation of the conflict that continues to cause population displacements, combined with the impacts of the pandemic and weather shocks (2021) |
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2014) | total: 8 years male: 8 years female: 7 years (2017) |
Education expenditures | 2.3% of GDP (2018) | 3.8% of GDP (2017) |
Urbanization | urban population: 37.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 44.7% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
Drinking water source | improved: urban: 97.9% of population rural: 69.8% of population total: 79.9% of population unimproved: urban: 2.1% of population rural: 27.6% of population total: 20.1% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 97.1% of population rural: 72.8% of population total: 82.9% of population unimproved: urban: 2.9% of population rural: 27.2% of population total: 17.1% of population (2017 est.) |
Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 85.6% of population rural: 34.8% of population total: 53% of population unimproved: urban: 14.4% of population rural: 65.2% of population total: 47% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 82.5% of population rural: 34.1% of population total: 54.2% of population unimproved: urban: 17.5% of population rural: 65.9% of population total: 45.8% of population (2017 est.) |
Major cities - population | 1.991 million CONAKRY (capital) (2021) | 2.713 million BAMAKO (capital) (2021) |
Maternal mortality rate | 576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 562 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 16.3% (2018) | 18.1% (2019) |
Health expenditures | 3.9% (2018) | 3.9% (2018) |
Physicians density | 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2016) | 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
Hospital bed density | 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011) | 0.1 beds/1,000 population (2010) |
Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 7.7% (2016) | 8.6% (2016) |
Mother's mean age at first birth | 19.9 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 | 19.2 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 |
Demographic profile | Guinea's strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea's total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country's large youth population is unemployed. Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea's borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d'Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot's Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence. | Mali's total population is expected to double by 2035; its capital Bamako is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. A young age structure, a declining mortality rate, and a sustained high total fertility rate of 6 children per woman - the third highest in the world - ensure continued rapid population growth for the foreseeable future. Significant outmigration only marginally tempers this growth. Despite decreases, Mali's infant, child, and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa because of limited access to and adoption of family planning, early childbearing, short birth intervals, the prevalence of female genital cutting, infrequent use of skilled birth attendants, and a lack of emergency obstetrical and neonatal care. Mali's high total fertility rate has been virtually unchanged for decades, as a result of the ongoing preference for large families, early childbearing, the lack of female education and empowerment, poverty, and extremely low contraceptive use. Slowing Mali's population growth by lowering its birth rate will be essential for poverty reduction, improving food security, and developing human capital and the economy. Mali has a long history of seasonal migration and emigration driven by poverty, conflict, demographic pressure, unemployment, food insecurity, and droughts. Many Malians from rural areas migrate during the dry period to nearby villages and towns to do odd jobs or to adjoining countries to work in agriculture or mining. Pastoralists and nomads move seasonally to southern Mali or nearby coastal states. Others migrate long term to Mali's urban areas, Cote d'Ivoire, other neighboring countries, and in smaller numbers to France, Mali's former colonial ruler. Since the early 1990s, Mali's role has grown as a transit country for regional migration flows and illegal migration to Europe. Human smugglers and traffickers exploit the same regional routes used for moving contraband drugs, arms, and cigarettes. Between early 2012 and 2013, renewed fighting in northern Mali between government forces and Tuareg secessionists and their Islamist allies, a French-led international military intervention, as well as chronic food shortages, caused the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Malians. Most of those displaced domestically sought shelter in urban areas of southern Mali, except for pastoralist and nomadic groups, who abandoned their traditional routes, gave away or sold their livestock, and dispersed into the deserts of northern Mali or crossed into neighboring countries. Almost all Malians who took refuge abroad (mostly Tuareg and Maure pastoralists) stayed in the region, largely in Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso. |
Contraceptive prevalence rate | 10.9% (2018) | 17.2% (2018) |
Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 85.2 youth dependency ratio: 79.7 elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 potential support ratio: 18.3 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 98 youth dependency ratio: 93.1 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.4 (2020 est.) |
Government
Guinea | Mali | |
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Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel | conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic etymology: name derives from the West African Mali Empire of the 13th to 16th centuries A.D. |
Government type | presidential republic | semi-presidential republic |
Capital | name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: 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 | name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name in the Bambara language can mean either "crocodile tail" or "crocodile river" and three crocodiles appear on the city seal |
Administrative divisions | 7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore | 10 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Menaka, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Taoudenni, Tombouctou (Timbuktu); note - Menaka and Taoudenni were legislated in 2016, but implementation has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names |
Independence | 2 October 1958 (from France) | 22 September 1960 (from France) |
National holiday | Independence Day, 2 October (1958) | Independence Day, 22 September (1960) |
Constitution | history: previous 1958, 1990; latest promulgated 19 April 2010, approved 7 May 2010 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020 | history: several previous; latest drafted August 1991, approved by referendum 12 January 1992, effective 25 February 1992, suspended briefly in 2012 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by members of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional sections on the integrity of the state, its republican and secular form of government, and its multiparty system cannot be amended; note - in early 2021, Prime Minister Moctar OUANE called for adopting a new constitution |
Legal system | civil law system based on the French model | civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court |
Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch | chief of state: President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010) note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup by a National Committee of Rally and Development that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima FOFANA (since 22 May 2018) note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup by a National Committee of Rally and Development that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7% | chief of state: Transitional President Assimi GOITA (since 7 June 2021) note: an August 2020 coup d'etat deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA; on 21 September 2020, a group of 17 electors chosen by the Malian military junta, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) and led by Colonel Assimi GOITA, selected Bah NDAW as transitional president; GOITA served as vice president of the transitional government which was inaugurated on 25 September 2020; Vice President GOITA seized power on 25 May 2021; NDAW resigned on 26 May 2021 head of government: Transitional Prime Minister Choguel MAIGA (appointed by Transitional President Assimi GOITA on 7 June 2021) note: former Prime Minister Moctar OUANE was arrested and detained by the military on 24 May 2021 and resigned on 26 May 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 July 2018 with a runoff on 12 August 2018 (next to be held February 2022); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (RPM) 77.6%, Soumaila CISSE (URD) 22.4% |
Legislative branch | description: unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; 76 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote and 38 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 21 March 2020 (next to be held 1 March 2027) election results: In parliamentary elections, the Rally of the Guinean People-Rainbow wins 57.5% of the vote (79 of 114 seats), the Democratic Union of Guinea 5.3% (4), the Democratic Popular Movement of Guinea 4.1% (3), and the New Democratic Forces 2.8% (3). Turnout is 58.0%. | description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members directly elected in single and multi-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; 13 seats reserved for citizens living abroad; members serve 5-year terms) note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 18 August 2020 following a military coup and the resignation of President KEITA elections: last held on 30 March and 19 April 2020 (prior to the August 2020 coup, the next election was scheduled to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA composition - NA |
Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; Constitutional Court member appointments - 2 by the National Assembly and the president of the republic, 3 experienced judges designated by their peers, 1 experienced lawyer, 1 university professor with expertise in public law designated by peers, and 2 experienced representatives of the Independent National Institution of Human Rights; members serve single 9-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 19 judges organized into judicial, administrative, and accounting sectons); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office); administrative courts (first instance and appeal); commercial courts; magistrate courts; labor courts; juvenile courts; special court of state security |
Political parties and leaders | Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO] National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE] Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE] Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO] Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE] Ruling party
Opposition parties
| African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO] Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity, and Justice or ADEMA-PASJ [Tiemoko SANGARE] Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP-Maliba [Amadou THIAM] Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA] Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence or FARE [Modibo SIDIBE] Convergence for the Development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni Amion GUINDO] Democratic Alliance for Peace or ADP-Maliba [Aliou Boubacar DIALLO] Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR] Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (coalition of smaller opposition parties) National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL] Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME] Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA] Rally for Mali or RPM [Boucary TRETA] Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE] |
International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Kerfalla YANSANE (since 24 January 2018) chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800 email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamadou NIMAGA (since 22 June 2018) chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603 email address and website: infos@mali.embassy.us https://www.maliembassy.us/ |
Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since September 2020) embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110 telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97 email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov https://gn.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis B. HANKINS (since 15 March 2019) embassy: ACI 2000, Rue 243, (located off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge west of the Bamako central district), Porte 297, Bamako mailing address: 2050 Bamako Place, Washington DC 20521-2050 telephone: [223] 20-70-23-00 FAX: [223] 20-70-24-79 email address and website: ACSBamako@state.gov https://ml.usembassy.gov/ |
Flag description | three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal | three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea |
National anthem | name: "Liberte" (Liberty) lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA note: adopted 1958 | name: "Le Mali" (Mali) lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO note: adopted 1962; also known as "Pour L'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" (For Africa and for You, Mali) and "A ton appel Mali" (At Your Call, Mali) |
International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICC jurisdiction |
National symbol(s) | elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green | Great Mosque of Djenne; national colors: green, yellow, red |
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 | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mali dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Economy
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Economy - overview | Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves, as well as gold and diamonds. In addition, Guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several West African rivers, including the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds are Guinea's main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves, which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth. Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However, the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012, following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012, Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government's ability to be transparent, combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. In April 2013, the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014, Guinea complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea's new five-year economic plan, focusing on the development of higher value-added products, including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy. Political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, low international commodity prices, and an enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency are factors that could impact Guinea's future growth. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects, such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy, however, grew by 6.6% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An combined with fears of Ebola virus, continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability. Guinea's iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017, agriculture output and public investment boosted economic growth, while the mining sector continued to play a prominent role in economic performance. Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads, rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government, led by President Alpha CONDE, is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development. | Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, landlocked Mali depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest; cotton and gold exports make up around 80% of export earnings. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River; about 65% of Mali's land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. The government subsidizes the production of cereals to decrease the country's dependence on imported foodstuffs and to reduce its vulnerability to food price shocks. Mali is developing its iron ore extraction industry to diversify foreign exchange earnings away from gold, but the pace will depend on global price trends. Although the political coup in 2012 slowed Mali's growth, the economy has since bounced back, with GDP growth above 5% in 2014-17, although physical insecurity, high population growth, corruption, weak infrastructure, and low levels of human capital continue to constrain economic development. Higher rainfall helped to boost cotton output in 2017, and the country's 2017 budget increased spending more than 10%, much of which was devoted to infrastructure and agriculture. Corruption and political turmoil are strong downside risks in 2018 and beyond. |
GDP (purchasing power parity) | $32.72 billion (2019 est.) $30.985 billion (2018 est.) $29.176 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $45.637 billion (2019 est.) $43.567 billion (2018 est.) $41.593 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - real growth rate | 8.2% (2017 est.) 10.5% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) | 5.4% (2017 est.) 5.8% (2016 est.) 6.2% (2015 est.) |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | $2,562 (2019 est.) $2,496 (2018 est.) $2,418 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $2,322 (2019 est.) $2,284 (2018 est.) $2,247 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.1% (2017 est.) services: 48.1% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 41.8% (2017 est.) industry: 18.1% (2017 est.) services: 40.5% (2017 est.) |
Population below poverty line | 43.7% (2018 est.) | 42.1% (2019 est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2007) | lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.8% (2010 est.) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 9.4% (2019 est.) 9.8% (2018 est.) 8.9% (2017 est.) | 1.9% (2018 est.) 1.8% (2017 est.) 1.7% (2017 est.) |
Labor force | 5.558 million (2017 est.) | 6.447 million (2017 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 76% industry: 24% (2006 est.) | agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 2.7% (2017 est.) 2.8% (2016 est.) | 7.9% (2017 est.) 7.8% (2016 est.) |
Distribution of family income - Gini index | 33.7 (2012 est.) 40.3 (1994) | 40.1 (2001) 50.5 (1994) |
Budget | revenues: 1.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.748 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 3.075 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 3.513 billion (2017 est.) |
Industries | bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing | food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining |
Industrial production growth rate | 11% (2017 est.) | 6.3% (2017 est.) |
Agriculture - products | rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, fonio, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, vegetables | maize, rice, millet, sorghum, mangoes/guavas, cotton, watermelons, green onions/shallots, okra, sugar cane |
Exports | $5.041 billion (2019 est.) $5.073 billion (2018 est.) $4.733 billion (2017 est.) | $3.06 billion (2017 est.) $2.803 billion (2016 est.) |
Exports - commodities | aluminum, gold, bauxite, diamonds, fish, cashews (2019) | gold, cotton, sesame seeds, lumber, vegetable oils/residues (2019) |
Exports - partners | United Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019) | United Arab Emirates 66%, Switzerland 26% (2019) |
Imports | $7.924 billion (2019 est.) $8.76 billion (2018 est.) $7.317 billion (2017 est.) | $3.644 billion (2017 est.) $3.403 billion (2016 est.) |
Imports - commodities | rice, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, cars (2019) | refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, cement, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
Imports - partners | China 39%, India 8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) | Senegal 23%, Cote d'Ivoire 15%, China 11%, France 9% (2019) |
Debt - external | $1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.192 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $3.981 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
Exchange rates | Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 9,953 (2020 est.) 9,542.5 (2019 est.) 9,092 (2018 est.) 7,485.5 (2014 est.) 7,014.1 (2013 est.) | Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) |
Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
Public debt | 37.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 35.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 36% of GDP (2016 est.) |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $647.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $395.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
Current Account Balance | -$705 million (2017 est.) -$2.705 billion (2016 est.) | -$886 million (2017 est.) -$1.015 billion (2016 est.) |
GDP (official exchange rate) | $13.55 billion (2019 est.) | $17.508 billion (2019 est.) |
Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 49.4 (2020) Starting a Business score: 84.5 (2020) Trading score: 47.8 (2020) Enforcement score: 53.9 (2020) | Overall score: 52.9 (2020) Starting a Business score: 84.3 (2020) Trading score: 73.3 (2020) Enforcement score: 42.8 (2020) |
Taxes and other revenues | 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 20% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 1% male: 1.5% female: 0.6% (2012 est.) | total: 2.4% male: 2.6% female: 2.3% (2018 est.) |
GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 80.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 6.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 18.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -36.9% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 82.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.4% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 22.1% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -41.1% (2017 est.) |
Gross national saving | 4.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 11.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 15.6% of GDP (2018 est.) 14.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 15.4% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 598 million kWh (2016 est.) | 2.489 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - consumption | 556.1 million kWh (2016 est.) | 2.982 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 800 million kWh (2016 est.) |
Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 550,000 kW (2016 est.) | 590,000 kW (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 68% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 19,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 22,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 18,460 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 20,610 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
Electricity access | electrification - total population: 46% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 84% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 24% (2019) | electrification - total population: 50% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 78% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 28% (2019) |
Telecommunications
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total subscriptions: 242,241 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.28 (2019 est.) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 12.873 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105.63 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 22,925,482 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.75 (2019 est.) |
Internet country code | .gn | .ml |
Internet users | total: 2,133,974 percent of population: 18% (July 2018 est.) | total: 2,395,886 percent of population: 13% (July 2018 est.) |
Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Guinea's mobile subscribership growing through investment of South African telecom operators and Chinese Huawei management; m-transactions supported commerce; broadband still limited and expensive though submarine cable and IXP improved reliability of infrastructure; 4G Wi-Fi in the capital; National Backbone Network will connect regional administrative centers; ECOWAS countries to launch free roaming; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020)domestic: there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding rapidly and now 101 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Mali's telecom systems are challenged by recent conflict, geography, areas of low population, poverty, security issues, and high illiteracy; telecom infrastructure is barely adequate in urban areas and not available in most of the country with underinvestment in fixed-line networks; high mobile penetration and potential for mobile broadband service; local plans for IXP; dependent on neighboring countries for international bandwidth and access to submarine cables; Chinese investment in infrastructure stymied by security issues; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line subscribership 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to over 115 per 100 persons; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas (2019) international: country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 1,250 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total: 142,522 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2018 est.) |
Broadcast media | government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2019) | national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019) |
Transportation
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Railways | total: 1,086 km (2017) standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge (2017) narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (2017) | total: 593 km (2014) narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) |
Roadways | total: 44,301 km (2018) paved: 3,346 km (2018) unpaved: 40,955 km (2018) | total: 139,107 km (2018) |
Waterways | 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) (2011) | 1,800 km (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2011) |
Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Conakry, Kamsar | river port(s): Koulikoro (Niger) |
Airports | total: 16 (2013) | total: 25 (2013) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 4 (2019) over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | total: 8 (2019) over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 12 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013) under 914 m: 2 (2013) | total: 17 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013) under 914 m: 5 (2013) |
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | 3X | TZ, TT |
Military
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Military branches | National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2020) | Malian Armed Forces (FAMa): Army (Armee de Terre; includes a riverine patrol force), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM); National Gendarmerie; National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2020) note(s): the Gendarmerie and the National Guard are under the authority of the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs (Ministere De La Defense Et Des Anciens Combattants, MDAC), but operational control is shared between the MDAC and the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection the Gendarmerie's primary mission is internal security and public order; its duties also include territorial defense, humanitarian operations, intelligence gathering, and protecting private property, mainly in rural areas the National Guard is a military force responsible for providing security to government facilities and institutions, prison service, public order, humanitarian operations, some border security, and intelligence gathering; it has special units on camels (the Camel Corps) for patrolling the deserts and borders of northern Mali |
Military service age and obligation | no compulsory military service (2021) | 18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service (men and women); 2-year conscript service obligation (2019) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 2% of GDP (2019) 2.3% of GDP (2018) 2.5% of GDP (2017) 2.5% of GDP (2016) 3.3% of GDP (2015) | 2.7% of GDP (2019) 2.9% of GDP (2018) 3% of GDP (2017) 2.6% of GDP (2016) 2.4% of GDP (2015) |
Military and security service personnel strengths | Guinean National Armed Forces are comprised of approximately 12,000 active personnel (9,000 Army; 400 Navy; 800 Air Force; 300 BASP; 1,500 Gendarmerie) (2020) | information varies; approximately 18,000 total troops (13,000 Army; 800 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie; 2,000 National Guard) (2020) |
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the Guinean military consists largely of ageing and outdated (mostly Soviet-era) equipment; since 2010, it has received small amounts of equipment from France, Russia, and South Africa (2020) | the FAMa's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years it has received limited quantities of mostly second-hand armaments from more than 15 countries (2020) |
Transnational Issues
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Disputes - international | Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998 | demarcation is underway with Burkina Faso |
Trafficking in persons | current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the majority of trafficking victims are Guinean children; Guinean girls are subjected to domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation, while boys are forced to beg, work as street vendors, shoe shiners, or miners; some Guinean children are forced to mine in Senegal, Mali, and possibly other West African countries; Guinean women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude and sex trafficking in Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Greece, and Spain, while Chinese and Vietnamese women are reportedly forced into prostitution in Guinea tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however it is making significant efforts to do so; the government drafted a new anti-trafficking action plan, provided support to eight victims exploited in the Middle East, and incorporated anti-trafficking training into the law enforcement curriculum; however, the government did not overall increase efforts compared to the last rating period; investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes decreased, victim identification was inadequate, and NGO's providing victim services did not receive government support; for the fourth year, resources for the anti-trafficking committee or the Office for the Protection of Gender, Children and Morals were inadequate; a Quranic teacher was not prosecuted for allegedly forcing child begging; Guinea was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020) | current situation: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging in Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's Tuareg community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; reports indicate that non-governmental armed groups operating in northern Mali recruited children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves; slaveholders use some members of the Tuareg community in hereditary servitude where communities rather than individuals or families exploit the enslaved tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mali does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts included prosecuting hereditary slavery cases, increasing convictions, continuing training and awareness raising activities, releasing all children associated with the Malian armed forces (FAMa) to an international organization for care, training law enforcement officials on protection of children in armed conflict, identifying 215 children used by armed groups and referring them to international organizations for care; however, the government did not stop all use of children in the FAMa; the government continued to provide support to and collaborate with the Imghad Tuareg and the Allies Self-Defense Group, which recruited and used child soldiers; authorities did not investigate any suspects for child soldier offenses or make efforts to prevent it; law enforcement lacked resources and training about human trafficking; services for victims remained insufficient; therefore, Mali was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020) |
Environment
Guinea | Mali | |
---|---|---|
Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 22.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 31.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 19.16 megatons (2020 est.) |
Total water withdrawal | municipal: 224.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 56.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 292.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 107 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 5.075 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 4.81% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 2.02% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,937,354 tons (2012 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook