According to COUNTRYAAH, Guinea is a West African state (245,836 km²). Capital: Conakry. Administrative division: prefectures (34). Population: 8,515,000 (2008 estimate). Language: French (official), Sudanese dialects. Religion: Muslims 85%, Christians 10%, others 5%. Monetary unit: Guinean franc (100 cauris). Human Development Index: 0.423 (167th place). Borders: Senegal (N), Mali (NE), Liberia and Sierra Leone (S), Atlantic ocean (W) Guinea-Bissau (NW). Member of: CEDEAO (suspended on 12/01/2009), OCI, UN, AU and WTO, EU associate.
A former French colony, Guinea, independent since 1958, is a presidential republic. According to the 1991 Constitution, the President of the Republic, elected by direct suffrage for 5 years, is also the head of the executive power. Legislative power rests with the National Assembly, whose members are elected for a 4-year term. At the top of the judiciary are the Court of Appeal, based in Conakry, the High Court of Justice, which deals with political crimes, and the Supreme Court of Cassation which also functions as a Council of State. So we find two courts of first instance, based in Conakry and Kankan, and justices of the peace, who deal with civil and criminal matters. The death penalty is still in force in the country. The defense of Guinea is entrusted to the armed forces and paramilitary organizations (republican guard, gendarmerie and militia). Military service is compulsory and lasts 2 years. After obtaining independence, the country established that education should be free and compulsory, but the complex ethnic composition that is reflected in the use of different languages has slowed down the schooling process. In 1984 to overcome this difficulty, teaching in the eight national languages was suspended, which were replaced by French. Primary education begins at age 7 and lasts for a period of 6 years. The secondary one begins at 13 and lasts for 7 years, comprising two cycles, one of 4 and one of 3 years. The illiteracy rate remains among the highest in the world, according to a 2006 estimate the illiterate people are 70.5%. Higher education is just starting: the program of the few universities (Polytechnic and School of Administration in Conakry) is divided into two courses (2 and 3 years) often interrupted by periods of practical experience.
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Climate
In Guinea there is a tropical climate in its purest form. The coast in particular is characterized by high and constant temperatures all year round, high humidity (up to 98%) and torrential downpours in the wet season.
The annual precipitation here is more than 4,000 mm, one of the highest values in the world. Only beyond the Fouta Djalon plateau in the east does the rain fall.
The rainy season is between May and November. Monsoon winds from the sea then come over the land with tropical thunderstorms and hurricane-like storms. Precipitation reaches its zenith in July and August. With up to 1,300 mm, double the amount of rain falls in one month that falls in large parts of Germany in one year (!). During this time the sky is often cloudy and there is little sunshine.
From December to April there is a dry season in the West African country. During this time, the dry and hot Harmattan from the Sahara ensures that the humidity drops a little.
The mean temperature values in Guinea are 22 to 32 ° C. On the Fouta Djalon plateau, however, the mercury column can drop to only 6 ° C at night in winter. In this region, the temperature fluctuations are generally somewhat higher than on the coast, where the Atlantic provides a balance. In the capital Conakry, on the other hand, the thermometer shows almost constantly between 24 and 32 ° C, regardless of whether it is rainy or dry season.
Best travel time for Guinea
A trip to Guinea should definitely only be undertaken in the dry season between December and April. Then the humidity is sometimes only below 70%. It is still quite high and uncomfortable, but much more bearable than in summer with almost 100%.
The holidaymaker should absolutely avoid the rainy season from May to October, which is one of the wettest in the world. In July and August in particular, violent storms send huge masses of water down from the sky. Not only do they make locomotion impossible, they also create an unbearable sultriness. However: If you want to experience a tropical rainy season in its purest form, you should plan a vacation on the coast of Guinea in the summer months.
