The foreign relations of Guinea, including those with its West African neighbors, have improved steadily since 1985.Background Note: Guinea, US Department of State, February 2009
Diplomatic history Guinea re-established relations with France and West Germany in 1975, and with neighboring Ivory Coast and Senegal in 1978. Guinea has been active in efforts toward regional integration and cooperation, especially regarding the Organisation of African Unity and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Guinea has participated in both diplomatic and military efforts to resolve conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau, and contributed contingents of troops to peacekeeping operations in all three countries as part of ECOMOG, the Military Observer Group of ECOWAS.ECOMOG: peacekeeper or participant?, BBC News Online, February 11, 1998 In the 1990s, Guinea hosted almost a million refugees fleeing the civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As of 2004, Guinea maintained a policy of unrestricted admission to refugees.
Guinea is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the United States military (as covered under Article 98).Status of US Bilateral Immunity Agreements (BIAs). Coalition of the International Criminal Court
2009 ambassador recall On 5 May 2009, President Moussa Dadis Camara, who seized power in a bloodless coup which followed the 22 December 2008 death of President Lansana Conté, announced the recall of 30 of Guinea's ambassadors to other countries. The order was made by a presidential decree on state television and was the first major diplomatic move made by the new leader.
The decision affected ambassadors to the United States, South Korea, the People's Republic of China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Egypt, South Africa, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Cuba, Switzerland, Serbia, Malaysia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Nigeria, Libya, Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, Gabon, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, comprising almost all of Guinea's foreign embassies. The Guinean representatives to the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union were also affected.
No reason was stated for the recall. The Tocqueville Connection states: "Most of the ambassadors were appointed by former prime minister Lansana Kouyaté, in office from February 2007 until May 2008," raising the possibility that the recall was an attempt on the part of Camara to distance himself from the previous government.
In late March 2009, the Guinean ambassador to Serbia faced expulsion for personal involvement in cigarette smuggling (1,000 packs of cigarettes were found in his BMW) but avoided arrest due to diplomatic immunity (although he was declared as persona non grata).Ambasador Gvineje švercovao cigarete
2021 coup d'etat The September 5, 2021 coup d'état brought swift condemnation and threats of sanctions from the United Nations, the African Union, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS (which suspended Guinea), and close allies of Guinea—as well as the United States—among others."Guinea coup leader bars foreign travel for government officials," Reuters News Service, retrieved September 6, 2021"On the Military Seizure of Power in Guinea," September 5, 2021, United States Department of State, retrieved September 6, 2021"West African leaders suspend Guinea from Ecowas following coup," September 9, 2021, BBC News, retrieved September 9, 2021 China, uncharacteristically, also openly opposed the coup."China Is OK With Interfering in Guinea's Internal Affairs,", September 8, 2021, Foreign Policy retrieved September 9, 2021
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Guinea maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109——110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156—157158159160—Unknown161Unknown
Bilateral relations Country Formal Relations BeganNotes2004Both countries established diplomatic relations in 2004 Australia and Guinea share close interests in the mining sector. They are the two largest bauxite producers in the world (see List of countries by bauxite production) and were founding signatories in the 1970s of the (now defunct) International Bauxite Agreement. Australian companies are involved in developing the Guinean mining sector. Guinea is accredited to Australia, through its embassy in Tokyo. Australia is accredited to Guinea, through its embassy in Accra, Ghana.28 March 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 March 1962 Canada is accredited to Guinea from its embassy in Dakar, Senegal.Embassy of Canada in Senegal Guinea has an embassy in Ottawa.4 October 1959See China–Guinea relations
The People's Republic of China and the Republic of Guinea established diplomatic relations on October 4, 1959, making Guinea the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to establish formal relations with China. China has become heavily dependent upon Guinea for bauxite (aluminum ore) -- Guinea's principal export—consuming half of it.21 January 1959Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 January 1959 and appointed M. Nobi Youla as first ambassador of Guinea to France and M. Francis Hure appointed as chargé d'affaires of France to Guinea France has an embassy in Conakry.Embassy of Franc in Guinea Guinea has an embassy in Paris.30 July 1959Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 July 1959 See Germany–Guinea relations Germany has an embassy in Conakry. Guinea has an embassy in Berlin.1958 Guinea has an embassy in Accra, which was opened in 1958. Ghana has an embassy in Conakry which is also accredited to Guinea-Bissau.27 April 1960Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1960 Indonesia's embassy in Dakar, Senegal is accredited to Guinea. Guinea's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is accredited to Indonesia.12 January 1959See Guinea–Israel relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 January 1959. Guinea broke off diplomatic relations with Israel on 12 June 1967 They resumed diplomatic relations on 20 July 20166 March 1959Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1959 when Mr. Edward Peal, the Liberian Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea, presented his credentials to President S. Toure. Guinea has an embassy in Monrovia, which was opened in 1959. Liberia has an embassy in Conakry.1993Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1993. Malaysia has an embassy in Conakry. Guinea has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.25 January 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 January 1962 Guinea is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.Accreditation of Guinea to Mexico Mexico is accredited to Guinea from its embassy in Abuja, Nigeria.Embassy of Mexico in Nigeria10 November 1959Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 November 1959 Serbia is accredited to Guinea, through its embassy in Algiers, Algeria. Guinea has an embassy in Belgrade. In 2019, Somalia suspended diplomatic relations with Guinea after President Alpha Conde invited Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi to visit Guinea. Diplomatic relations were reestablished on 22 September 2024.28 August 2006 Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Guinea were established on 28 August 2006. The number of South Koreans living in Guinea in 2011 was 70. Guinea is accredited to South Korea, through its embassy in Tokyo. South Korea is accredited to Guinea, through its embassy in Dakar, Senegal.11 October 1962Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 October 1962 Guinea has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Conakry. Trade volume between the two countries was US$136.7 million in 2019. There are direct flights from Istanbul to Conakry since January 30, 2017.See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Guinea established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 28 May 1959. Guinea maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Guinea through its embassy in Conakry.
Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization.13 February 1959Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 February 1959 See Guinea – United States relations
Guinea became the first French African colony to gain independence, on 2 October 1958, at the cost of the immediate cessation of all French assistance.
After a temporary suspension due to nationwide political unrest in early 2007, the Peace Corps program in Guinea resumed operations at the end of July. Prior to the suspension, Peace Corps had more than 100 volunteers throughout the country, and the program is gradually increasing its numbers again. Volunteers work in four project areas: secondary education, environment/agro-forestry, public health and HIV/AIDS prevention, and small enterprise development. Guinea has also had a strong Crisis Corps program through the last few years.
The U.S. "condemned" Guinea's "2008 military coup d'etat,"—but had "close relations" with Guinea before the coup, and after "Guinea's presidential elections in 2010"—in support of "democratic reform.""U.S. Relations With Guinea," October 30, 2018, United States Department of State, retrieved September 6, 2021 However, the U.S. State Department immediately condemned the September 5, 2021 coup d'état, warning against "violence and any extra-constitutional measures, [which] could limit the ability of the United States and Guinea's other international partners to support the country..."
Guinea has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Conakry.Embassy of the United States in Guinea9 October 1958Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 October 1958 Guinea is the first country in Africa to establish formal diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Vietnam's embassy in Rabat, Morocco is accredited to Guinea. Guinea's embassy in Beijing, China is accredited to Vietnam.
See also List of diplomatic missions in Guinea List of diplomatic missions of Guinea
References