Foreign relations of Guinea

Guinea

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Guinea

President Moussa Dadis Camara Prime Minister Kabiné Komara National Assembly Elections 2009 Presidential 2009 Parliamentary 2003 Presidential 2002 Parliamentary Political Parties Regions Prefectures Sub-prefectures Foreign relations

Other countries · Atlas  Politics portal view • talk • edit

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2009)

The foreign relations of Guinea, including those with its West African neighbors, have improved steadily since 1985.^[1] Guinea reestablished relations with France and West Germany in 1975, and with neighboring Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal in 1978.^{[citation needed]} Guinea has been active in efforts toward regional integration and cooperation, especially regarding the Organization of African Unity and the Economic Organization of West African States (ECOWAS).^{[citation needed]} Guinea participates actively in the deliberations and decisions of a variety of international organizations.^[who?]

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.^[2] Guinea has offered asylum to over 700,000 Liberian, Sierra Leonean, and Bissauan refugees since 1990, despite the economic and environmental costs involved.^{[citation needed]}

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).^[3]

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.^[4] The order was made by a presidential decree on state television and is the first major diplomatic move made by the new leader.^[4] The decision affects ambassadors to the United States, 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.^[4][5][6] The Guinean representatives to the European Union, the United Nations and the African Union are also affected.^[4][5] No reason has been stated for the recall.^[5] The Tocqueville Connection states: "Most of the ambassadors were appointed by former prime minister Lansana Kouyaté, in office from February 2007 until May 2008,"^[5] 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 but avoided arrest due to diplomatic immunity (although he was declared as persona non grata); in his BMW, 1000 packs of cigarettes were found.^[7]

Bilateral relations

Cote D'Ivoire

France

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.

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Senegal

Sierra Leone

United States

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.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).[1]

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Guinea
• List of diplomatic missions of Guinea

References