Sub Saharan Africa

Guinea

Still current at: 21 July 2008

Updated: 20 June 2008

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

We are aware of recent incidents in Conakry of foreign nationals being stopped in their vehicles and robbed at gunpoint by armed individuals dressed in military uniform.

Petty crime is common in Guinea.  You should take sensible precautions and maintain a high level of vigilance in public.

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind.  All precious stones require an export licence.  Those who commit criminal offences, including gem smuggling, can expect to be subjected to local law.  There are heavy penalties for those convicted.  Local prison conditions are harsh.

Pickpocketing, muggings and armed break-ins occur especially in Conakry.  You should avoid carrying valuables in public and be vigilant at all times.

The local police number for downtown Conakry is (+224) 30 45 17 97 (Commissariat Central Kaloum).

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Guinea Country Profile

The security situation has been tense in Guinea since the appointment of a new Prime Minister on 20 May.  A mutiny by part of the army and a police strike both resulted in disturbances in the centre of Conakry causing deaths.  While the appointment of a new government on 19 June has not produced immediate unrest, and the country appears calm, the situation is likely to remain fragile until clear authority is re-established in the army and security forces.  You should exercise caution if you intend to travel to areas near military camps.

The teachers union started strike action on 19 June. Other copy cat strikes may occur. You should avoid all demonstrations and political rallies.

The Guinean trade unions called for a general strike in January 2008 but did not act on it. However, a general strike remains a possibility. Should a general strike take place, banks are likely to close and there may be fuel shortages and other forms of disruption.

The Guinean trade unions held a general strike in January and February 2007 which resulted in martial law being declared from 12-23 February 2007.  A curfew was also imposed.  During the strike over 100 people were killed in demonstrations and many more injured.

Local Travel

We advise against all but essential travel to Guinea.  This is because of heightened tension following the sacking of the Prime Minister and appointment of thenew Prime Minister on 20 May.  The capital city Conakry is tense.  Areas bordering Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire are unstable because of the fragile security situation in Côte d’Ivoire, and poor government control over the border areas in Liberia (where a large UN peacekeeping force is still in place) and Sierra Leone. There is a high military presence in these areas. 
 
Road Travel

Public transport, when it exists, is neither reliable nor safe.  Taxis and long distance buses are poorly maintained, and the drivers often unqualified.  Most major hotels and travel agencies offer cars for hire, with a chauffeur if required.

The rainy season (May - October), makes travel outside Conakry and to the interior both difficult and hazardous.  Travel outside cities after dark should be avoided.  Fuel shortages often occur in Guinea.  It is inadvisable to travel within Guinea without a sufficient supply of fuel to complete your journey.

The standard of road maintenance is low.  Beware of deep potholes.  Many roads are not metalled and are not repaired after the rainy season.  Roads within Conakry and other principal towns can quickly become flooded and impassable.  Vehicles countrywide may be badly maintained and unroadworthy.  Few motorists have any form of insurance.  Hostile crowds can gather quickly at the scene of a traffic accident, particularly where foreigners are involved.

You are strongly advised not to travel outside of Conakry and other principal towns after dark.

Police and local militia checkpoints are found throughout the country.  Vehicles and passengers are submitted to checks on documentation and baggage.  Corruption and extortion are common at roadblocks.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Air Travel

Strike action by customs officials on 16 June forced the closure of Conakry international airport in the evening, preventing international flights from landing.  The strike action may have knock on effects such as further cancellations of flights and waiting lists for flights leaving Guinea.  International flights were able to land on 17 June, but further disruption to the airport may occur.  If you have an essential need to travel to Guinea you should check with your airline for the latest situation on flights before travelling.

On 28 May protesting soldiers converged on Conakry international airport causing it to temporarily close and forcing an Air France flight to divert to Dakar, Senegal.  This disruption led to a short period during which there were waiting lists for passengers seeking flights out of Guinea.

There are a number of local airlines, which operate internally and on shuttle routes to neighbouring destinations.  We do not have reliable information about safety and/or maintenance standards, but flights are frequently delayed or cancelled.

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community.  You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: Air Transport Portal of the European Commission - latest news.
 
Sea Travel
 
There have been reports of attacks of piracy and armed robbery against ships in Guinean territorial waters. Please see River and Sea Safety for more detailed information on piracy.

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind.  All precious stones require an export licence.  Those who commit criminal offences, including gem smuggling, can expect to be subjected to local law.  There are heavy penalties for those convicted.  Local prison conditions are harsh.

It is a requirement that foreigners and Guinea nationals show identification if requested by the police or other law enforcement agencies.  You are allowed to carry photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport, provided they are certified by the Guinean police.  The original should be kept in a safe place.

 

Homosexuality is legal in Guinea, but not widely accepted.

 

Photography and filming in many parts of the country is forbidden.  Elsewhere they are subject to strict rules which are enforced rigidly.  It is forbidden to photograph or film anything of strategic value e.g.  bridges.  Individuals may prefer not to be photographed.  If in doubt, ask or do not take pictures. 

For more general advice for different types of travellers see the Travel checklists.

Visas

All British nationals require a visa to enter or reside in Guinea.  Visas for both private and business travel and residency can be obtained at the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea.

Passport Validity

Your passport must have a validity of at least six months when applying for a visa to enter Guinea.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate

You require a certified Yellow Fever vaccination certificate to enter Guinea.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact: Embassy of the Republic of Guinea.

Medical facilities are poor in Guinea, with equipment basic and often not sterile.  You should carry basic medical supplies, and should consider including an emergency dental kit if travelling outside Conakry.  There are minimal facilities for dealing with heart problems and major trauma.  For serious medical treatment, medical evacuation to Europe is necessary. There are well-stocked pharmacies in Conakry but few outside the capital.  

There are no central contact numbers for hospitals in Guinea.  Only private clinics can be contacted.  In Conakry, Clinique Pasteur can be reached on (+224) 30430074.

Malaria and other waterborne diseases, such as cholera, are prevalent.  Water supplies are untreated so you should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Guinea you should seek immediate medical attention.

Cholera occurs every year in the rainy season in most parts of the country, and lasts for up to eight months.  There have been 135 deaths from Cholera in the first eight months of 2007. This is higher than in previous years.  

The last major outbreak of Yellow Fever was in January 2006 in the Boke region.  It resulted in 23 deaths.

In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 78,000 adults aged 15 or over in Guinea were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling.  This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How We Can Help.

Phone Network

 
In February 2006, Guinean mobile phone numbers changed.  Each number will now consist of eight digits with no prefix.  The following prefixes will be replaced by the corresponding digits to make up the new eight-digit numbers:

 

The former 011 prefix should be replaced by 60

The former 012 prefix should be replaced by 62

The former 013 prefix should be replaced by 63

 

In May 2006, fixed lined numbers also changed.  All fixed line numbers should now start with 30.

Registering with the British Embassy

We strongly recommend that you register with th eembassy if you have not already done so, preferably by e-mail to britembconakry@hotmail.com.

You can also register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

 

Consular Assistance

Due to the small size of the British Embassy, only emergency assistance can be provided.

All visitors to the Embassy will be seen strictly by appointment.

The Embassy will run a telephone enquiry service on (+224) 63 35 53 29 during normal office hours:  Monday to Thursday 0800-1630 and Friday 0800-1300.

In an emergency the duty officer can be reached 24 hours a day on (+224) 60 25 42 05.

Money

 

Credit careds are not widely used.  ATM facilities accept foreign cards, but should not be relied upon as a means of getting money.  International credit cards may be used to draw cash over the counter.  Outside Conakry banking can be difficult.