Conakry
Encyclopedia
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea
. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500. Originally situated on Tombo Island
, one of the Îles de Los
, it has since spread up the neighboring Kaloum Peninsula.
The population of Conakry is difficult to ascertain, although the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs
has estimated it at 2 million. Conakry is thought to contain almost a quarter of the population of Guinea.
, and the word "nakiri", which means in Sosso
the other bank or side.
Conakry was originally settled on tiny Tombo Island and later spread to the neighboring Kaloum Peninsula, a 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) long stretch of land 0.2 to 6 km (656.2 to 19,685 ft) wide. The city was essentially founded after Britain ceded the island to France in 1887. In 1885, the two island villages of Conakry and Boubinet had fewer than 500 inhabitants. Conakry became the capital of French Guinea
in 1904 and prospered as an export port, particularly after a (now closed) railway to Kankan
opened the large scale export of groundnut
from the interior.
In the decades after independence, the population of Conakry exploded, from 50,000 inhabitants in 1958 to 600,000 in 1980, to over two million today. Its small land area and relative isolation from the mainland, while an advantage to its colonial founders, has created an infrastructural burden since independence.
In 1970, conflict between Portuguese forces and the PAIGC
in neighbouring Portuguese Guinea
(now Guinea-Bissau
) spilled into the Republic of Guinea when a group of 350 Portuguese troops and Guinean dissidents landed near Conakry, attacked the city
, and freed 26 Portuguese prisoners of war held by the PAIGC before retreating, failing to overthrow the government or kill the PAIGC leadership.
with a single region and prefecture government. The local government of the city was decentralized in 1991 between five municipal communes headed by a mayor. From the tip in the southwest, these are:
The five urban communes make up the Conakry Region, one of the eight Regions of Guinea
, which is headed by a governor. At the second-tier prefect level, the city is designated as the Conakry Special Zone, though the prefecture and regional government are one and the same. At two million inhabitants, it is far and away the largest city in Guinea, making up almost a quarter of the nation's population and making it more than four times bigger than its nearest rival, Kankan
.
s are shipped. Manufactures include food products and housing materials.
An average Guinean in Conakry will get a monthly wage of about 225 000 GNF or about $45.
and the successive prime ministers, Cellou Dalein Diallo
and Eugène Camara
, appointed to fill the post after the resignation of Prime Minister François Lonseny Fall
in April 2004. Violence reached a peak in January–February 2007 in a general strike
, which saw over one hundred deaths when the Army confronted protesters
, Conakry features a tropical monsoon climate
. Conakry features a wet season
and a dry season
. Like a good portion of West Africa
, Conakry's dry season is influenced by the harmattan
between December and April. As a result relatively little precipitation falls in the city during these months. However, unlike a good portion of West Africa, Conakry's wet season sees an extraordinary amount of precipitation. As a result, Conakry averages nearly 3,800 mm (149 in.) of precipitation per year, earning the city a tropical monsoon climate classification.
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500. Originally situated on Tombo Island
Tombo Island
Tombo Island is an island in the Atlantic Ocean at the tip of the Guinean Kaloum Peninsula, approximately east of the Loos Islands.The island is the site where the capital Conakry was built on. It is the site of the old city of Conakry while the new colonial city is located at Kaloum...
, one of the Îles de Los
Iles de Los
Îles de Los are an island group lying off Conakry in Guinea. There are three main islands: Tamara , Kassa and Roume, while Coraille, Blanche and Cabris are smaller islands to the south.The islands have been inhabited for a long time...
, it has since spread up the neighboring Kaloum Peninsula.
The population of Conakry is difficult to ascertain, although the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs
Bureau of African Affairs
In the United States Government, the Bureau of African Affairs is part of the U.S. Department of State and is charged with advising the Secretary of State on matters of Sub-Saharan Africa. The bureau was established in 1958...
has estimated it at 2 million. Conakry is thought to contain almost a quarter of the population of Guinea.
History
According to a legend, the name of the city comes from the fusion of the name "Cona", a wine producer of the Baga peopleBaga people
The Baga people live in the coastal area of Guinea. They can be subdivided into five groups of which Landouma is the largest, accounting for fifty percent of all ethnic Bagas. Apart from the various Baga languages, most of the Baga also speak the Mande language Susu, the regional trade language...
, and the word "nakiri", which means in Sosso
Sosso
The Sosso Empire was a twelfth-century Kaniaga kingdom of West Africa.-Medieval Sosso:The modern Sosso people trace their history to a 12th- and 13th-century Kaniaga kingdom known as the "Sosso." With the fall of the Ghana Empire, the Sosso expanded into a number of its former holdings, including...
the other bank or side.
Conakry was originally settled on tiny Tombo Island and later spread to the neighboring Kaloum Peninsula, a 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) long stretch of land 0.2 to 6 km (656.2 to 19,685 ft) wide. The city was essentially founded after Britain ceded the island to France in 1887. In 1885, the two island villages of Conakry and Boubinet had fewer than 500 inhabitants. Conakry became the capital of French Guinea
French Guinea
French Guinea was a French colonial possession in West Africa. Its borders, while changed over time, were in 1958 those of the independent nation of Guinea....
in 1904 and prospered as an export port, particularly after a (now closed) railway to Kankan
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
opened the large scale export of groundnut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
from the interior.
In the decades after independence, the population of Conakry exploded, from 50,000 inhabitants in 1958 to 600,000 in 1980, to over two million today. Its small land area and relative isolation from the mainland, while an advantage to its colonial founders, has created an infrastructural burden since independence.
In 1970, conflict between Portuguese forces and the PAIGC
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde or PAIGC is a political party that governed Guinea-Bissau from the independence of the then Portuguese Guinea in 1974, until the late 1990s, and from 2004 to 2005. Currently it is the party with the largest number of seats in the...
in neighbouring Portuguese Guinea
Portuguese Guinea
Portuguese Guinea was the name for what is today Guinea-Bissau from 1446 to September 10, 1974.-History:...
(now Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
) spilled into the Republic of Guinea when a group of 350 Portuguese troops and Guinean dissidents landed near Conakry, attacked the city
Portuguese invasion of Guinea, 1970
The Operation Green Sea was an amphibious attack on Conakry, the capital of Guinea, by between 350 and 420 Portuguese soldiers and Portuguese-led Guinean fighters in November 1970...
, and freed 26 Portuguese prisoners of war held by the PAIGC before retreating, failing to overthrow the government or kill the PAIGC leadership.
Government and administration
Conakry is a special citySpecial city
Special city refers to* Special cities of Korea* Special cities of Japan* Special wards of Tokyo* Special cities of China are now known as the municipalities of China...
with a single region and prefecture government. The local government of the city was decentralized in 1991 between five municipal communes headed by a mayor. From the tip in the southwest, these are:
- KaloumKaloumKaloum is an urban sub-prefecture in the Conakry Region of Guinea and one of five in the capital Conakry.Kaloum includes the city centre of Conakry.When Air Guinée existed, its head office was in Kaloum.-References:...
– the city centre - DixinnDixinnDixinn is an urban sub-prefecture in the Conakry Region of Guinea and one of five in the capital Conakry.The University of Conakry is located in Dixinn.-References:...
– including the University of ConakryPolytechnical Institute of ConakryThe Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, also known as the University of Conakry is the largest university in Guinea. Until 1984 known as the Polytechnical Institute of Conakry it was the first higher education institution in Guinea. It was built with technical assistance from the Soviet...
and many embassies - RatomaRatomaRatoma is an urban sub-prefecture in the Conakry Region of Guinea and one of five in the capital Conakry.-References:...
– known for its nightlife - MatamMatam, GuineaMatam is an urban sub-prefecture in the Conakry Region of Guinea and one of five in the capital Conakry.-References:...
- MatotoMatotoMatoto is an urban sub-prefecture in the Conakry Region of Guinea and one of five in the capital Conakry.Gbessia Airport is located in Matoto.-References:...
– home to Conakry International AirportConakry International AirportConakry International Airport , also known as Gbessia International Airport, is an airport located in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea in West Africa. It is divided into domestic and international terminals...
.
The five urban communes make up the Conakry Region, one of the eight Regions of Guinea
Regions of Guinea
||Guinea is divided into 8 administrative regions which are further subdivided into 34 prefectures.*Boké Region*Conakry Region*Faranah Region*Kankan Region*Kindia Region*Labé Region*Mamou Region*Nzérékoré Region-See also:*ISO 3166-2:GN...
, which is headed by a governor. At the second-tier prefect level, the city is designated as the Conakry Special Zone, though the prefecture and regional government are one and the same. At two million inhabitants, it is far and away the largest city in Guinea, making up almost a quarter of the nation's population and making it more than four times bigger than its nearest rival, Kankan
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
.
Economy
Conakry is Guinea's largest city and its administrative, communications, and economic centre. The city's economy revolves largely around the port, which has modern facilities for handling and storing cargo, through which alumina and bananaBanana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s are shipped. Manufactures include food products and housing materials.
An average Guinean in Conakry will get a monthly wage of about 225 000 GNF or about $45.
Infrastructural crisis
Periodic power and water cuts are a daily burden for Conakry's residents, dating back to early 2002. Government and power company officials blame the drought of February 2001 for a failure of the hydro-electric supply to the capital, and a failure of aging machinery for the continuation of the crisis. Critics of the government cite mis-management, corruption, and the pull out of the power agency's French partner at the beginning of 2002. As of 2007, much of the city has no traffic lighting in the overnight hours. Popular anger at shortages in Conakry was entwined with anti-government protests, strikes, and violence over the rule of President Lansana ContéLansana Conté
Lansana Conté was the second President of Guinea from 3 April 1984 until his death. He was a Muslim and a member of the Susu ethnic group.-Early life:...
and the successive prime ministers, Cellou Dalein Diallo
Cellou Dalein Diallo
Cellou Dalein Diallo is a Guinean economist and politician who was Prime Minister of Guinea from 2004 to 2006. Currently he is President of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea , an opposition party....
and Eugène Camara
Eugène Camara
Eugène Camara is a political figure from Guinea who was briefly Prime Minister of Guinea in February 2007.-Early life and career:...
, appointed to fill the post after the resignation of Prime Minister François Lonseny Fall
François Lonseny Fall
François Lonseny Fall is a Guinean diplomat and political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea from February 23, 2004 to April 30, 2004....
in April 2004. Violence reached a peak in January–February 2007 in a general strike
2007 Guinean general strike
The 2007 Guinean general strike began on January 10, 2007. Guinea's trade unions and opposition parties called on President Lansana Conté to resign, accusing him of mismanaging the economy and abusing his authority. The strikers also accused Conté of personally securing the release of Mamadou...
, which saw over one hundred deaths when the Army confronted protesters
Climate
According to Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, Conakry features a tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
. Conakry features a wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
and a dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
. Like a good portion of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, Conakry's dry season is influenced by the harmattan
Harmattan
The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows south from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March...
between December and April. As a result relatively little precipitation falls in the city during these months. However, unlike a good portion of West Africa, Conakry's wet season sees an extraordinary amount of precipitation. As a result, Conakry averages nearly 3,800 mm (149 in.) of precipitation per year, earning the city a tropical monsoon climate classification.
Hospitals
- Donka HospitalDonka HospitalThe Donka Hospital is a publicly owned hospital in Conakry, Guinea. It has inadequate facilities to handle demand, and many Guineans cannot afford its service...
- Ignace Deen HospitalIgnace Deen HospitalThe Ignace Deen Hospital is a hospital in Conakry, Guinea built during the colonial era. A report in 2011 described the conditions as squalid, with poor quality of care. During the election campaign in October 2010, the hospital received several dozen supporters of the Presidential candidate Alpha...
- Clinique Ambroise ParéClinique Ambroise ParéThe Clinique Ambroise Paré is a hospital in Conakry, Guinea, is considered to be the best hospital in the country.The hospital is named after Ambroise Paré, the father of French surgery....
- Clinique Pasteur
Hotels
- Grand Hotel de l'Unite
- Hotel Camayene
- Hotel du Golfe
- Hotel del Niger
- Hôtel Océane
- Hotel Petit Bateau
- Hotel Le Rocher
- Hotel le Sogue
- Le Meridien Mariador PalaceLe Meridien Mariador PalaceThe Meridien Mariador Palace is a hotel in Conakry, Guinea. It is situated in the Quartier de Ratoma area of the city. The hotel was built in 1999, using investment from the Far East....
- Maison d Accueil
- Novotel Grand Hotel de L'Independance, Conakry
- Le Riviera Royal Hotel
Palaces and museums
- Casa de Belle Vue
- Center Culturel Franco Guineen
- Conakry National MuseumConakry National MuseumConakry National Museum or Guinea National Museum is the national museum of Guinea, situated in the capital, Conakry. It was established shortly after independence in 1960. It contains displays of the ethnography and prehistory of Guinea, and has a considerable collection of masks and fetishes and...
- Palais de Nations
- Presidential PalacePresidential Palace (Guinea)The Presidential Palace in Conakry, Guinea is the seat of the President.The Palais Presidentiel is behind the Cathedrale Sainte-Marie....
- Palais du PeuplePalais du PeupleThe Palais du Peuple is a venue for important events in Conakry, Guinea. In 2008, the building underwent serious renovations prior to celebrations for Guinea's 50th anniversary of independence....
Places of worship
- Cathedrale Sainte-MarieCathedrale Sainte-MarieThe Cathédrale Sainte-Marie is an important place of Christian worship in Conakry, Guinea. The yellow and red building is of considerable architectural interest.Monseigneur Raymond René Lérouge laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral in 1928....
- Paroisse Saint Michel
- Conakry Grand MosqueConakry Grand MosqueThe Conakry Grand Mosque is a mosque in Conakry, Guinea, located north of the Conakry Botanical Garden. It was built by Ahmed Sékou Touré, opening in 1982...
- CHRIST EMBASSY (KIPE)CONAKRY |url=http://www.christembassy.org/
Universities and education
- College Gbessia Centre
- College-Lycee Sainte-Marie
- Gamal Abdel Nasser UniversityGamal Abdel Nasser UniversityGamal Abdel Nasser University, also Institut Polytechnique de Conakry is a university in Conakry, Guinea. The university was established in 1962 with 13 schools and faculties, including medicine.It was established during a period of progressive economic development in the country after independence....
(Institut Polytechnique de Conakry) - Institut Geographique National (Guinea)
- Guinea National Library and ArchivesGuinea National Library and ArchivesThe Guinea National Library and Archives are the national library and archives of Guinea, situated in the capital, Conakry. It was established shortly after independence in 1960. The library has a collection of over 40,000 volumes and the archives over 3,000....
- Université Kofi Annan
Other
- 8 November Bridge8 November BridgeThe 8 November Bridge is a bridge in Conakry, Guinea. It has strategic significance, given that the bridge cuts the Central Business District off from the rest of the city. During coups the bridge has played an important role....
- Camp BoiroCamp BoiroCamp Boiro or Camp Mamadou Boiro is a defunct Guinean concentration camp within Conakry city.During the regime of President Ahmed Sékou Touré, thousands of political opponents were imprisoned at the camp....
- Conakry International AirportConakry International AirportConakry International Airport , also known as Gbessia International Airport, is an airport located in Conakry, the capital of the Republic of Guinea in West Africa. It is divided into domestic and international terminals...
- Monument du 22 Novembre 1970Monument du 22 Novembre 1970, ConakryThe Monument du 22 Novembre 1970 is a monument in Conakry, Guinea that celebrates the defeat of the attempted coup led by Portuguese troops in 1970, named Operation Green Sea....
- Stade du 28 Septembre
External links
- http://www.guineeconakry.info/: Conakry - based news portal
- Le Jour Guinée
- http://www.conakrycity.com
- Guineevision
- Office National du Tourisme, République du Guinée.
- l’Université Kofi Annan de Guinée (UNIKAG)
- Satellite image of Conakry and the Kaloum Peninsula, from the European Space AgencyEuropean Space AgencyThe European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
's EnvisatEnvisatEnvisat is an Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on 1 March 2002 aboard an Ariane 5 from the Guyana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guyana into a Sun synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of...
: image description at http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMAV21XDYD_index_1.html.
