Guineau after Live Aid

Guinea possesses extensive mineral wealth, yet its population is incredible poor. 82% live in poverty, lacking access to clean water, sanitation facilities and adequate and effective healthcare. Guinea is particularly vulnerable to the volatility of its neighbours which further compounds its problems. Encouragingly, since 1980, Guinea's life expectancy at birth has increased by 15.7 years. SOS Children strives to bring stability and love to Guinea’s young people through its supportive programmes despite great political, economic and social instability. 

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Time Line

• 1958 Guinea becomes independent; Ahmed Sekou Toure becomes president.

• 1984 (March) Sekou Toure dies.

• 1984 (April) Lansana Conte and Diarra Traore gain power via a coup. Conte is installed as president and Traore becomes prime minister.

• 1985 SOS Children given an area of land in Sinfonia. 

  

  Children from Conakry in Guinea

• 1989 SOS Children constructs its first village in Guinea, Children’s Village Conakry, in Sinfonia. The village does important work with HIV and AIDS victims, mainly orphaned or vulnerable children, in the area via the Family Strengthening Programme.

• 1990 A constitution which will allow for the installation of a civilian government is adopted.

• 1993 The first multiparty elections are held with Conte being confirmed in office.

• 1995 Conte's Party wins a majority of seats in the National Assembly. SOS Children constructs an SOS Youth Home in Conakry, aimed at providing continued support to older children who will soon leave the main village.

• 2000 Problems begin on Guinea’s borders as rebels from Liberia and Sierra Leone encroach. The incursions claim over 1,000 lives and huge displacement. As a result, Guinea itself becomes far less stable.

• 2001 President Conte successfully changes the maximum time that a president can be in office – from 5 to 7 years. His opponents criticise him for attempting to hold on to power for life. Critics accuse Mr Conte of trying to stay in power for life. SOS Children builds its second Children’s Village in N’Zérékoré, including both a nursery and primary school. It also develops a Family Strengthening Programme that works with children and their families made vulnerable by the affects of HIV/AIDS.

• 2003 President Conte wins a third term. The elections were boycotted by the opposition.

• 2005 SOS Children’s third Children’s Village in Guinea opens in Kankan. The village was constructed amidst dire socio-economic conditions and the shadow of the civil wars raging in neighbouring countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone & Guinea Bissau).

  

• 2006 SOS Children’s Social Centre N’Zérékoré opens, focusing on refugee families and those families that cannot support themselves.

• 2007 President Conte declares a state of emergency, instructing the army to restore order following days of violent protests. SOS Children’s Social Centre Conakry becomes operational. Its main aim is to help the local population gain access to services.

• 2008 President Conte dies; the military takes control in a coup that prompts international condemnation. Many Guineans back the army’s move. Captain Moussa Dadis Camara is marked out as the leader of the new military junta, eventually declaring himself president.

• 2009 Captain Moussa Dadis Camara announces that presidential elections will be held on 31 January 2010, with elections for the parliament to be held in March.

• 2009 (September) Soldiers open fire on a mass opposition rally at a stadium in Conakry. Estimates say from Human Rights Organisations say 157 are killed and over 1200 injured. The military government disagrees, putting the death toll at 57. It goes on to ban all "subversive" gatherings. 79,000 Guineans are living with HIV/AIDS.
  

• 2010 (May) Campaigning begins for 27 June presidential election.

• 2010 (June) Presidential elections. No outright winner after the first round.

• 2010 (November) Alpha Conde is declared the winner following a run-off. A state of Emergency is rapidly declared following clashes between security forces and supporters of the defeated candidate.The maternal death rate is 610 deaths per 100,000 live births, the 12th worst rate in the world.
  

• 2012 President Conde delays 8 July parliamentary elections, which were originally scheduled for late 2011. The opposition welcomes this.  Electoral commission finally sets a date for parliamentary elections - 12 May 2013. Guinea is ranked 177th out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index. 

• 2013 The infant mortality rate stands at 57.11 deaths per 1,000 births, 33rd worst in the world.