More information about Guinea is available on the Guinea Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-GUINEA RELATIONS
The United States maintained close relations with Guinea prior to the country's 2008 military coup d’etat, which the U.S. condemned. Following Guinea's presidential elections in 2010, the United States reestablished strong diplomatic relations with the government. U.S. policy seeks to encourage Guinea's democratic reforms, its positive contribution to regional stability, and sustainable economic and social development.
With the United States calling for free, fair, peaceful, and inclusive legislative elections, Guinea held long delayed democratic legislative elections on September 28, 2013. The peaceful inauguration of the newly elected legislature on January 13, 2014, marked a positive advance in Guinea’s democratic development. Helping to build Guinea’s architecture of democracy by creating an independent legislature and encouraging continued dialogue between Guinea’s Government and political party leadership is essential. The U.S. has strongly encouraged all political players to work towards strengthening Guinea’s democratic institutions. Next steps include fortifying the National Assembly, constructing a transparent judiciary, and preparing for 2015 Presidential elections.
The United States is engaged in Guinea’s Security Sector Reform and seeks to focus on professionalizing Guinea’s military and security forces in an effort to promote democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights.
U.S. Assistance to Guinea
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Guinea has a core program that supports democratic transition and election processes, good governance at the local level, and improved service delivery by government institutions through key interventions at the local and national level. USAID also has significant programming intended to improve health outcomes through improved standards of care and community engagement. Regional programming supports preservation of World Heritage forest sites and critical biodiversity hotspots in Guinea.
Over 100 Peace Corps volunteers work throughout the country in four project areas: secondary education, agro-forestry, public health , and community economic development. All PCVs work across sectors in initiatives such as malaria prevention, youth development, and food security.
The Department of Defense and Africa Command continue to professionalize Guinea’s military and security forces through an array of security assistance programs such as: International Military Education and Training (IMET), Foreign Military Financing and Sales (FMF and FMS), Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) for peacekeeping operations, peacekeeping military exercises, DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), maritime domain awareness, and the African Center for Strategic Studies.
Bilateral Economic Relations
In late 2011, the U.S. Government reinstated Guinea's African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits, which had been lost in early 2010. The reinstatement followed a review by the U.S. Government to examine whether the country had made "continual progress" in meeting AGOA's eligibility criteria. Those criteria include establishment of a market-based economy, rule of law, economic policies to reduce poverty, protection of internationally recognized worker rights, and efforts to combat corruption; political progress was a key factor. The restoring of AGOA eligibility provides the potential for an increase in mutually beneficial trade and investment between Guinea and the United States.
The United States and Guinea have signed an investment guarantee agreement offering political risk insurance to U.S. investors through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
Guinea's Membership in International Organizations
Guinea has been active in efforts toward regional integration and cooperation. Guinea and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
Bilateral Representation
The U.S. Ambassador to Guinea is Alexander Mark Laskaris; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.
Guinea maintains an embassy in the United States at 2112 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-986-4300).
More information about Guinea is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
Department of State Guinea Country Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Guinea Page
U.S. Embassy: Guinea
USAID Guinea Page
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Travel and Business Information
