Published: May 9, 2024
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Guinea Travel Advisory and Guinea Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Conakry:
Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry.
Tel: +224-65-10-40-00; After Hours Emergencies: +224-629-000-701.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 0730 to 1630 and Friday from 0730 to 1330.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
There is an active OSAC Country Chapter in Conakry. For more information or to join the chapter, contact OSAC’s Africa team with any questions.
Guinea Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should reconsider travel Guinea due to fuel shortages impacting local infrastructure, civil unrest, and health and exercise increased caution due to crime.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Conakry as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea.
There is considerable risk from crime in Conakry. The city experiences a wide spectrum of criminal activity. Crimes of opportunity (e.g., pickpocketing, purse snatching, theft of valuables from vehicles, assaults, residential burglaries) are of particular concern. In particular, low-level criminal activity occurs in areas where people congregate, such as markets. Criminals may take advantage of foreigners attempting to navigate these crowded locations.
Do not accept unsolicited offers of assistance at the airport or hotels; individuals may be seeking opportunities to rob visitors of their belongings. Travelers in vehicles have been victims of opportunistic crime in which criminals exploit unlocked car doors or open windows to steal personal belongings or to carjack the driver. Motorists should only roll down windows enough to communicate when necessary. The U.S. Embassy is aware of several armed robberies involving assault rifles, pistols, knives, and machetes. Although most of these attacks have taken place outside the capital, some have also occurred within the city limits, including in the neighborhood of the U.S. Embassy. Sexual assault and rape, primarily against women, does occur. Women should exercise caution when traveling alone.
Residential burglaries are more frequent during the rainy season, as torrential rains naturally mask sounds associated with criminal activity, such as breaking glass or attempts to breach perimeter walls. Criminals often target locations with perceived vulnerabilities that they can exploit to gain access. Ineffective perimeter walls, minimal lighting, weak window grilles, and poorly paid or trained guards make home invasions more inviting. Employing vetted and alert security guards, as well as maintaining effective compound and perimeter security measures mitigate the threat from home invasion.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea.
Kidnapping does occur in Guinea, but mostly up-country from Conakry; most incidents affect locals and are family-related or cases where victims know their abductors.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Conakry as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea.
No known indigenous terrorist organization operates in the country. However, Guinea’s borders remain porous, creating the potential for spillover from neighboring countries from the Sahel and elsewhere that have multiple active terrorist groups operating within their territories (Mali) or have previously suffered terrorist attack (Côte d’Ivoire). The first quarter of 2024 saw an uptick in Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen (JNIM) attacks in Mali along the border with Guinea. In March of 2024, a group of armed men on motorbikes attacked a police outpost in Kouremale, located at the Guinea-Mali border. Land border controls are overwhelmed, and only present in specific locations. There are many locations to cross borders without passing through areas with government control.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Conakry as being a HIGH-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
In September 2021, Guinean special forces lead by Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power in Conakry, deposing Guinean President Alpha Condé in a military takeover. The takeover came following protests and violence between protesters and Guinean security forces, which themselves followed Condé’s re-election as president in 2020 amid a constitutional referendum allowing him to reset his two-term limit. Doumbouya, alongside his National Committee for Reunification and Development (CNRD), subsequently announced a transitional government with him as transitional president. Doumbouya, the CNRD, and the military takeover retain strong support in Guinea. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has repeatedly called for the Doumbouya administration to set a timeline for elections and a transition to democratic governance following the September 2021 coup. The Doumbouya administration had promised to hold elections in 2025, but a detailed timeline and milestones toward elections remain unclear. In February 2024, the Doumbouya administration dissolved the transition government and seized government members’ passports and new ministers were appointed two months later.
Protests & Demonstrations
Protests are common, especially in Conakry. Sporadic demonstrations regularly occur across the country, some of which have turned violent and resulted in injuries and/or fatalities. In May 2022, the transitional government announced a ban on all political demonstrations. Political demonstrations still occur in defiance of the ban and are often violently dispersed by security forces. It is not uncommon for gathered youth to block streets with burning tires or large stone barricades and throw smaller stones at passing vehicles. Protests frequently result in congested traffic that may leave travelers at a standstill for several hours. Government vehicles caught in traffic during recent protests have had rocks and debris thrown at them, as well as protesters attempting to gain access. Criminals are known to take advantage of the resulting traffic congestion to rob drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. Uniformed security forces may also extort drivers and passengers during these incidents.
Security forces are generally quick to respond to demonstrations and mob activities. Police often use tear gas to disperse crowds and occasionally discharge firearms in the air. In these instances, there is a risk of serious injury/death by falling rounds. Avoid large gatherings, as even peaceful demonstrations could turn confrontational or involve police use of force while dispersing participants. Signs of escalating activity include large groups increasing in size and agitation, debris in the road, many drivers going the wrong way down a road and using hand gestures to turn or seeing multiple trucks carrying gendarmes.
September 28th Stadium is a common starting/ending point for organized protests and marches in Conakry. Protestors may gather near a relevant ministry building in Kaloum. The most problematic areas are Bambeto traffic circle (the intersection of Route le Prince and Transversale 2 (T-2) in Kipe), the Hamdallaye traffic circle on Route le Prince, and the Cosa intersection of Route le Prince and T-3.
Following the military government’s dissolving of the transition government, a coalition of major Guinean labor unions and civil society organizations held a nationwide strike beginning on February 26. The coalition demanded higher wages, the release of a detained trade union leader, and an end to internet restrictions. The strike closed schools, banks, shops, and most medical service providers. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces in the outskirts of Conakry on February 26, resulting in the deaths of two young men as a result of gunshot wounds. The strike ended on February 28 with the release of Sekou Jamal Pendessa, the detained labor union leader.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Guinea doesn't typically have issues with anti-U.S./anti-Western sentiment.
Law Enforcement
The police emergency line in Guinea is 117. Reach the Police Director General at +224-622-23-48-23. Contact the American Citizen Services (ACS) section of the embassy in an emergency.
Security forces in Conakry consist of the National Gendarmerie and the National Police. Police are responsible for traffic accident investigations and have a riot-control element that responds to civil unrest. Police also have an investigatory role in the prosecution of crimes. The gendarmes serve in a crime prevention and close protection capacity, which also includes responding to civil unrest. Gendarmes may dress in any manner of military uniform/fatigues, typically in blue military-style fatigures; do not expect security forces to have matching uniforms. Police teams responding to protest activity often dress uniformly in black. Traffic police may dress in dark blue pants and light blue shirts, and occasionally with yellow vests. During the day, traffic police deploy at the main traffic circles and intersections and use their position to pull over drivers. It is not unusual to see checkpoints staffed by police/gendarmes, particularly at night. Additional gendarmes/police checkpoints are often set up around 2200 hours. Reported incidents of bribery/money solicitation have occurred at these checkpoints as well. Motorists have encountered checkpoint-barricades manned by uniformed gendarmes or police personnel who subtly request money and search through personal belongings, confiscating items of value.
Police Response
Police response is inconsistent or nonexistent, especially outside of Conakry. It is not uncommon to be accused of violating an obscure/fake law by officers who expect a small bribe.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Guinea, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guinea.
Corruption is a constant problem in Guinea. The law provides criminal penalties for corruption, but the government but does not implement the law effectively. Authorities prosecute very few corruption cases, and even fewer result in convictions. Allegations of corruption range from low-level functionaries and managers of state enterprises to ministers and the presidency. Officials have allegedly diverted public funds for private use or for illegitimate public uses, such as buying expensive vehicles for government workers. Land sales and business contracts generally lack transparency.
Law enforcement and others will routinely construct makeshift barricades and arbitrability stop vehicles to solicit bribes in order to pass. This practice does not exclude diplomatic plated vehicles, despite many attempts by the Embassy to liaise with and educate local security forces on the fact these behaviors are unacceptable. Corruption is a way of life and is widely accepted in most levels of government.
Cybersecurity
There have been several reports of local victims of online financial scams originating or claiming to originate from Conakry. These scams typically involve a con artist attempting to convince a victim to send money via email. Schemes can include purported lotteries, online dating services, gifts, bank overpayments, or even helping a new friend in trouble. Scams often offer to sell diamonds or gold. In general, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many foreigners have lost large quantities of money and put themselves in danger by engaging in such deals.
Import/Export Restrictions
Guinean customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning the temporary import or export of items such as firearms, antiquities, medications, business equipment, and ivory.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
