Guinea is an ex-French colony, which obtained her independence on October 2, 1958 after sixty years of colonisation. She becomes the 82nd member of the United Nation Organisation on December 12, 1958.

Situated on the 10th parallel North of the equator, the Republic of Guinea has a geographical spread of 245,857 Sq Km. To the west of the country is the Atlantic Ocean along a 300 Km coastal belt. Guinea shares a common border with Mali, Senegal and Guinea Bissau to the North and Ivory Coast and Mali to the East and to the South with Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Guinea is blessed with a wide variety of natural resources and ecosystems; 300 Km of coastal line and vegetation varying from the mangrove to dense forest including the scarcely wooded savannah and soils that are favourable to agriculture and endowed with considerable water courses, the peak of Nimba Mountains, the highest in West Africa, is 1752 metres high.

The climate is equatorial with two alternative seasons; a dry season (from November to April) and a rainy season (from May to October) varying according to region and altitudes.

Geographically, Guinea is divided in to four natural regions. Generally to obtain the desired changes and ensure the participation of the entire national community, every policy must take into account the realities as well as the ethnic and cultural differences. 

Each of the ethnic groups has its own language and behaviour patterns deeply rooted in its culture.

The socio-ethnic structure requires specific social mobilisation strategies. Hence development programmes must have the support of opinion leaders who differ widely from one region to the other.

In Basse Guinea (Lower Guinea) predominantly soussou speaking, leaders of opinion are  people of distinction (notables) chosen on the basis of age, experience and lineage. Basse Guinea, otherwise known as Guinea Maritime, is a narrow coastal belt, with lot of estuaries and swampy zones dominated by mangroves. It has an abundant rainfall of about 3, 137 mm. It occupies 18 % of the national territory and its main crops are swamp rice, coconuts, oil palm, bananas, pineapples citrus fruits and vegetables.

In Moyenne Guinea (Middle Guinea) predominantly fulani – speaking, the leadership is based on lineage and a sound knowledge of the Holy Koran, the opinion leader is therefore the imam or marabou. The region is dominated by the Fouta-Djallon mountains with a peak of 1,515 metres. Its area is 22 % of the national territory with an annual rainfall of 1,750 mm, favourable to stock breeding as well as the cultivation of beans, potatoes, citrus fruits and vegetables.

In Haute Guinea (or Upper Guinea), predominantly Mandingo – speaking the Sotikemo (old proprietors of the Village) and the Douty (land – owners) are the leaders of opinion. This is the Savannah region and covers 40 % of the national territory with an annual rainfall of 1,558 mm. It is a gold and diamond mining zone and also favourable to rice, maize, millet, timber and cotton cultivation.

In Guinea Forestière (Forest Guinea) home of the "Foresters", we have lineage chiefs who are the old custodians of the secrets of the sacred forest. The peak of Nimba Mountains dominates Guinea Forestière, with an equatorial climate and an annual rainfall varying between 1.700 and 3000 mm. It occupies 20 % of the national territory and is covered by dense forests with an immense potential for rice, coffee, banana, palm oil and rubber cultivation as well as timber.

These are the undisputed leaders and indispensable intermediaries for social mobilisation and the success of projects.

Messages delivered during Friday prayers are undoubtedly the surest way of reaching people's hearts and minds in predominantly Moslem regions.

Owing to its soil and climate Guinea is a predominantly agro – pastoral country. But it has great mineral resources (bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron, ore, etc.), which constitute potential wealth, and also has energy resources for electricity production.

It should however be pointed out that demographic explosion, urbanisation and the great need for agricultural land and forest products (wood) have led to the deterioration of the environment (bush fires, erosion, deforestation) has had a negative impact on the climate and hydrology (drought). Climatic changes experienced in recent years (insufficient and irregular rainfall) have had an impact on the waterways and the ground water.

Population is estimated at seven (7) million inhabitants.

Political and Administrative situation

- From 1958 to 1984 the country has a one-party system with a centralised administration.

After April 3, 1984 and the transitional period, multiparty system was adopted in April 1998. Nowadays nearly fifty political parties have been legalised.