Guinea Conakry is the only Francophone country in Africa to get complete independence from France in 1958, choosing to have its own currency and manage its own finances. In this video I show you the capital city of Conakry like never seen before.
I started the tour from the center point of the city and proceeded to the country's main business and administrative districts.
Guinea, officially known as the Republic of Guinea, is a West African country located on the Atlantic coast. Its capital and largest city is Conakry, which is also the country's economic and cultural center.
Guinea is bordered by Guinea-Bissau to the northwest, Senegal to the north, Mali to the northeast, Ivory Coast to the east, Sierra Leone to the southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
In 1958, France offered its African colonies a choice regarding their future status within the French Community. The French government proposed two options:
Autonomous Republic: African colonies could choose to become autonomous republics within the French Community, maintaining ties to France but with some degree of self-governance.
Complete Independence: Alternatively, they could opt for complete independence and sever their ties with France.
Guinea's decision to become an independent nation was a bold assertion of its sovereignty. It rejected continued colonial rule, signaling that Guineans wanted to determine their own destiny.
France, in response to Guinea's decision, withdrew abruptly, taking with it technical experts, infrastructure, and resources. This economic isolation posed significant challenges for the newly independent nation.
However Guinea's decision aligned with the principles of Pan-Africanism, advocating for African unity, self-reliance, and solidarity.
Today Guinea's economy is heavily dependent on its vast mineral resources, including bauxite, gold, diamonds, and iron ore. The country is one of the world's leading producers of bauxite, a key ingredient in aluminum production.
The population of Guinea was estimated to be around 13 million people in 2021. The country has a relatively youthful population, with a significant percentage of its people under the age of 25.