|
|
History:
Main article: History of Guinea
The area covered by the modern state of Guinea has seen itself incorporated
into a succession of empires across the centuries. The earliest of these
was the "Ghana Empire" which came into being c. 900. This was
followed by the Sosso kingdom in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Mali
Empire came to power in the area following the Battle of Kirina in 1235.
The Mali Empire prospered until internal problems weakened it, allowing
its states to seize power in the 15th century. Chief among these was the
Songhai state which became the Songhai Empire. This empire exceeded its
predecessors in territory and wealth, but it too fell prey to internal
wrangling and civil war and was eventually toppled at the Battle of Tondibi
in 1591. After this the area fragmented until an Islamic state was founded
in the 18th century, bringing some stability to the region.
Europeans first came to the area during the Portuguese Discoveries, who
started the slave trade, beginning in the 15th century. Present-day Guinea
was created as a colony by France in 1890 with Noël Balley being
the first governor. The capital Conakry was founded on Tombo Island in
1890. In 1895 the country was incorporated into French West Africa.
Monument over the 1970 military victory over the Portuguese invasion
Guinea gained her independence from France in 1958 and was governed by
a dictatorship headed by Ahmed Sékou Touré. Touré
pursued broadly socialist economic policies and suppressed opposition
and free expression with little regard for human rights. After his death
in 1984 Lansana Conté took power and immediately turned away from
his predecessor's economic policies but continued to keep a close grip
on power. Elections were held for the first time in 1993 but their results
and the results of subsequent elections were disputed. Conté faces
regular criticism for the condition of the country's economy and for his
heavy-handed approach to political opponents. As of 2005 Guinea still
faces very real problems and according to the International Crisis Group
is in danger of becoming a failed state.
|