Guinea Military

Guinea is a country located in West Africa. With a population of around 12 million people, it is one of the most populous countries in the region. Guinea is a presidential republic and its military consists of three branches: the Army, Air Force and Navy. The Armed Forces are responsible for defending the country’s borders and sovereignty, as well as providing security to its citizens. In terms of defense spending, Guinea spends approximately $200 million annually on its military, making it one of the highest defense spending nations in West Africa. The country also participates in several United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions such as those in Mali and Ivory Coast. Guinea is also a member of both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Mano River Union (MRU), and has close ties with other ECOWAS members such as Nigeria and Senegal. See naturegnosis to learn more about the country of Guinea.

Defense

The defense, which is based on selective military duty with an initial service of 24 months, comprises (2009) 12,000 men and is organized into 9 battalions, 2 patrol vessels and about 7 older fighter aircraft. Semi-military security forces amount to 7,000 men. The material is older and of Soviet origin.

Defense costs decreased in 1985–2007 from 1.8% to 1.1% of GDP. Guinea participates with observers in the UN peacekeeping operations in Ivory Coast (UNOCI), Sudan (UNMIS) and Western Sahara (MINURSO). To see related acronyms about this country, please check ABBREVIATIONFINDER where you can see that GIN stands for Guinea.

Guinea Army

Early in the morning of December 23, 2008, the chairman of the National Assembly went on national TV and announced that Conté had died the evening before after a long illness. The president’s weakened health was reportedly kept secret, and this led to some speculation as to whether he had died of natural causes. Guinea’s constitution said that upon the death of the president, the post is provisionally taken over by the chairman of the National Assembly and presidential elections are held for holding within 60 days. A few hours after the announcement of the president’s death, however, the military conducted a coup. In the lead was Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, who was part of a group called the National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD). Camara issued a statement stating that the government and state institutions had been dissolved, the constitution put out of force and political and professional activity banned. Conté was buried on December 26, and 40 days of mourning were announced.

December 30, the military junta appointed Kabine Komara as prime minister. The junta declared January 5 that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held by the end of 2009. 10 days later a new government was inaugurated. While the coup was condemned by most of the world, including the AU, the UN and the EU, the United States merely expressed hope for a “peaceful and democratic transition”.

  • COUNTRYAAH: Do you know where is Guinea on the world map? Come to see the location and all bordering countries of Guinea.

In late September, the junta ordered the military to attack protesters protesting Camara’s plans to run for president. It sent the soldiers out for murder, rape and robbery. In December, Lieutenant Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité fired President Camara following a quarrel over the events in September. While Camara was in Morocco to be treated for her gunshot wounds, the power was temporarily taken over by Brigadier General Sékouba Konaté, who was already Vice President and Secretary of Defense.

In October 2009, Minister of Mines Mahmoud Thiam announced that Guinea had signed an agreement with the China Development Fund to invest $ 7 billion. US $ in Guinea’s infrastructure. In contrast, China was supposed to be a “strategic partner” in mining projects in the mineral-rich country. In September 2011, the new Minister of Mines, Mohamed Lamine Fofana, declared that the new government had canceled the agreement with China. Other multinational mining companies had given the government a “better deal” and it had drafted a new mining law. Guinea has 25% of the world’s bauxite reserves, but is one of Africa’s poorest countries.