Guinea 2014

Yearbook 2014

Guinea. In March, an epidemic of Ebola fever was found in rural areas in southeastern Guinea. Guinea population in 2020 is estimated at 13,132,806. The infectious and fatal disease, for which there is no cure, spread to neighboring countries Liberia and Sierra Leone in the following months. In August, the three countries decided to close their common borders and block the worst-affected regions. Senegal also decided to close its border with Guinea. The epidemic created mistrust and tensions in the country. In August, unrest erupted in the metropolis of Nzérékoré after a rumor started that the spraying on the city’s market in order to limit the risk of infection was in fact an attempt by the authorities to spread the disease. In September, nine people, including three journalists, were murdered by a mob when they visited Nzérékoré to disseminate information about Ebola fever.

By the end of the year, 2,707 people had been diagnosed with Ebola fever in Guinea, of which 1,708 had died. The outside world’s efforts to stop the spread of epidemics were considered to have been both inadequate and delayed during the autumn. According to topb2bwebsites, the heavy burden on Guinea’s very poorly developed health care system resulted in people suffering from other, often fatal illnesses being unable to receive care. In addition, the country’s economy was severely affected by the effects of the epidemic.

In January, Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana resigned in 2010, but was re-appointed a few days later by Alpha Condé. A new government following the parliamentary elections held in October 2013 was presented in January 2014. The majority of the ministers were allowed to remain, among them Foreign Minister François Lonseny Fall. Mohamed Diaré was appointed new finance minister. The elections held in 2014 also had the consequence that the EU resumed its cooperation with Guinea and paid out previously withheld development aid.

In February, protests erupted against recurrent power outages in the capital, Conakry, and at least two people lost their lives.