Guinea is a secular state, where religious freedom is guaranteed by the Constitution, and is usually respected. The majority of residents are Muslims (65-85 percent according to various sources). In Guinea, as in many other parts of West Africa, Islam is characterized by Sufism, a pious direction characterized by mysticism. The followers are expected to devote themselves to ashes and meditation. Most Muslims belong to the majority orientation Sunni, but the number of Shia Muslims has increased in recent years.
Traditional indigenous religions with ancestral worship and religious belief are still strong in Guinea, especially among the Malinké and smaller people in the Southeast. Up to 10 percent of the population is Christian. Most of them are Catholics, most of whom are found in the larger cities, but there are also smaller Protestant communities, such as Anglicans and Baptists.
Even among Muslims and Christians, elements of traditional beliefs often live on. Both Muslim and Christian celebrations are celebrated. Marriage across religious boundaries is common.
Reports have come of some discrimination against non-Muslims in the appointment of government services. It can also be difficult for Muslims to convert to another faith.
During the Ebola epidemic, traditional burials, where the mourners touch the dead, were banned because of the risk of contagion (see also Social conditions).
- Countryaah: Population statistics for 2020 and next 30 years in Guinea, covering demographics, population graphs, and official data for growth rates, population density, and death rates.
2018
November
Women’s protest is stopped
November 1st
Hundreds of women, who have planned a protest to demand justice for the opposition activists killed by the security forces, are prevented from implementing it. According to the opposition, 98 protesters have been killed in Guinea since President Alpha Condé came to power in 2010. A few days earlier, Amnesty had expressed concern over the many casualties required in connection with the opposition’s protests. So far this year, 18 people have been killed, three in the last two weeks.
October
Teenager shot during opposition protest
October 23
A teenager is shot to death in connection with opposition protests against alleged cheating during local elections. Hundreds of young people take part in the Conakry protest, which has been banned by the authorities. The protesters throw stones at the police who respond by shooting them with tear gas. Opposition leader Cellou Dalien Diallo says his car was shot by police when he was on his way to the demonstration.
A death in connection with opposition protests
October 16
A man is shot to death in connection with an opposition protest in the capital Conakry. The opposition again protests against the cheating which it believes occurred during the local elections in February. Security Minister Alpha Ibrahima Keira says the security forces have been ordered to act “firmly” against the protesters. The opposition has scheduled another protest day on October 18.
September
Conde-critical judges are forced away
September 19
Kéléfa Sall, the chair of the Constitutional Court, who has made himself known as an outspoken critic of President Alpha Condé, is forced to leave his post. The other eight judges act by the court. They point out that they lack confidence in Sal. At the same time, representatives of the political opposition and civil society are expressing concern that this is being done to ensure that the court approves a constitutional change in order for Condé to stand to win a third term as president, something that is currently not permitted by the constitution.
August
The government and the opposition in a new agreement after the local elections
9th of August
The opposition parties are suspending planned protest actions after agreeing with the government, among other things, that the UFDG may appoint 22 mayors and district leaders in Ouende Kenema, Bignamou, Thiasso, Thindoye, Manfara, Bissikirima and Kindia, while the RPG will appoint the mayor in Dubre of the capital. At least 10 people have been killed in the protests that erupted after the local elections in February. The parties also agree to set up a fund to help relatives of victims.
May
Ibrahima Kassory Fofana becomes new prime minister
24th of May
Ibrahima Kassory Fofana, former minister responsible for investment, is commissioned to form a new government. President Condé appoints the country’s new prime minister via decree . Fofana is a trained economist and has held several ministerial posts in the past. He was, among other things, the country’s finance minister in the 1990s, during Lansana Conté, but went into voluntary exile in 2000 after coming to the brim with the then president. However, Fofanas does not make any major changes within the government, the heavy ministers remain on their posts.
No to parliamentary inquiry into Bollore’s affairs
May 23
A majority of the National Assembly votes against a parliamentary inquiry into French businessman Vincent Bollore’s business in the country, citing that the criminal investigation against him is purely a French matter.
The government is leaving
May 17
Prime Minister Mamady Youla and his government. This has happened since President Condé talked about a government reform, where ministers who are better at “listening to the people” should take over. Until a new government is complete, Youala leads an interim minister. At the same time, the opposition is reported to have suspended its protests against alleged cheating in local elections after promises of international mediation. At least 10 people have been killed in connection with protests following the February local elections.
New protests against alleged fraud
May 14
The opposition resumes its protests against alleged electoral fraud in the local elections in February with a general strike that paralyzes parts of Conakry. This has happened since the dialogue between the government got stuck in early May.
The opposition calls for parliamentary inquiry into French billionaire business
May 2
Opposition members of the National Assembly demand that a parliamentary commission be appointed to investigate whether billionaire Vincent Bollore’s business in the country. A police investigation is already underway in France as to whether Bollore’s company, Groupe Bollore, performed work at a sub-price for presidential candidates in Guinea and Togo in 2009 and 2010 in exchange for port contracts. In Guinea, it is about operating and expanding the container port in Conakry. However, the opposition cannot establish a commission on its own, but needs the support of a number of Condé-loyal members to make this possible. President Condé later states that he intends to notify the French court of making false accusations.
April
Opposition blows up protests against alleged fraud
April 1st
Since at least 15 people died in connection with the protests following the February local elections, opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo blows off all planned demonstrations. Dalein Diallo also meets with President Condé to discuss what needs to be done to reduce political tensions in the country. Behind the opposition’s dissatisfaction, there is a dissatisfaction with how the local elections were conducted and accusations that cheating occurred.
March
Free Trade Agreement in Africa
21 March
Guinea is one of 44 countries to sign a Free Trade Agreement at the African Union Summit in Rwanda. The agreement must be ratified at the national level before the AFCFTA free trade area can become a reality, but it is seen as a historically important step towards increased trade exchange within Africa.
Teacher strike over, opposition protests continue
14th of March
The teacher strike is inflated after just over a month. The parties have then agreed that the 40 percent salary increase negotiated until 2017 will be fully implemented (only part of it was paid in February 2018, which triggered the strike). The authorities have also promised that no one should be punished for participating in the strike. At the same time, the protests against the government continue under the auspices of the UFDG. Three young men are said to have been killed in connection with these. Some day later, about a thousand red-and-white women, led by Halimatou Dalein Diallo, wife of opposition leader Dalein Diallo, march along a highway in Conakry in protest against police violence.
New protests in Conakry
the 12th of March
Thousands of opposition supporters are participating in protests against the government and how local elections have been held. Residents also highlight dissatisfaction with the ongoing teacher strike and demand that schools be reopened (teaching has been suspended since February 12).
February
General strike closes Conakry
February 26th
Large parts of Conakry stand still in the general strike announced by the union central organization UGTG in support of the opposition. Thousands of young Guineans set up roadblocks and burn tires to prevent all vehicles from accessing. Opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo is accusing the police of taking over to stop the strike and demanding to know the real result of the local elections earlier that month. One person is shot dead and several are hospitalized for their injuries. Even before that, a strike was going on among the teachers, who are now rejecting the latest bid for wage increases from the government.
Success for RPG in local elections
February 21st
The ruling party RPG wins the local elections held earlier in February. President Alpha Condé’s RPG gets 3284 seats of proxy compared to 2156 for opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallos UFDG and 447 for UFR. However, RPG and Condé suffer a setback in Conakry, where the opposition wins. Since cooperation between the parties is more common at the local level, it is still unclear who will sit in power where. The opposition continues its accusations of electoral fraud.
At least seven dead in violence around local elections
February 5
The first local elections in 2005 will start in Guinea. They were originally held in 2010, but have been postponed several times. Since then, new local representatives have been appointed by President Alpha Condé. However, the election is bordered by both violence and the opposition’s accusations of cheating. At least seven people have been killed in clashes between government and opposition supporters in several parts of the country. About 50 people are also arrested following a fire bomb attack that calls for the lives of five young children in Kalinko. The International Criminal Court (ICC) notes that it closely monitors what is happening and notes the statements made by politicians that can undermine violence.
