Guinea is home to 9.6 million people, 35% of whom live in urban areas. The capital city is Conakry, where 2.1 million people live. Colonized by the French, Guinea achieved independence in 1958; led by Sekou Toure, whose Marxist inspired ideals shifted into a repressive regime until he died in 1984. The army took power led by Colonel Lansana Conte, who established new fundamental law and presidential elections, which he won in 1993. Conte withstood a coup attempt in 1996 and won another presidential election in 1998 and again in 2002, with 96% of the vote. Conte's enduring power led to a widespread revolt by 2007, forcing Conte to share power with prime minister Lansana Kouyate. Within a few hours of his death in 2008, a military coup took over until 2010 when civilian rule was established with the narrow victory of Alpha Conde, who was reelected in 2015. Guinea has long struggled with widespread poverty and lack of healthcare. In 2013 the first Ebola cases were thought to have emerged in Guinea; over 2,500 deaths have been reported as of October 2015.

DATA VISUALIZATIONS

PROTESTS