|
|
Country Program Materials
|
|
USAID/Guinea Links
USAID/Guinea
Mission
www.usaid.gov/gn Mission Director:
Local Address:
- Quartier Cameroun
Corniche Nord
US Embassy
B.P. 603
Conakry
Guinée
Tel: 224-41-2163, 2502, 2029
Fax: 224-41-1985
From the US:
- DOS/USAID
2110 Conakry Place
Washington, D.C.
20521-2110
|
|
|
USAID's Strategy in Guinea The cross-border attacks that threatened to destabilize Guinea's
national integrity and undermine the prospects for long-term
development are no longer the dominant factors that they were
two years ago. Internally, however, Guinea's progress toward
democracy continues to face major constraints: meaningful
multi-party politics is impeded by ethnic cleavages, and the
legacy of authoritarian leadership, pervasive corruption and
over-centralization have stymied the development of effective
legislative and judicial branches of government. The constructive
dialogue facilitated by USAID over the preceding two years
contributed to peaceful, if deeply flawed, legislative elections
in June, 2002, but the potential for conflict has increased
markedly since dialogue between the administration and the
opposition broke down in the lead-up to these elections.
A potentially rich country, given its mineral resources and
agricultural capacity, Guinea's economic development is impeded
by limited foreign and domestic investment, inadequate infrastructure,
and rampant corruption. The quality of life of the average
Guinean is considered among the lowest in the world and severe
malnutrition is widespread. New opportunities, however, have
opened up for Guinea to address its economic development constraints
and reduce poverty. Under the World Bank and International
Monetary Fund coordinated Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) Debt Relief Initiative, Guinea's official debt is scheduled
for cancellation. Debt relief will allow for a positive redirection
of the investment budget, including the financial resources
to boost investment in Guinea's social development and implement
its poverty reduction strategy. Guinea continues to be of strategic interest to the United
States in several respects. Viewed in the context of the war
on terrorism, Guinea is a moderate Muslim country that currently
holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and
maintains a moderate, secular orientation in its foreign policy.
In the West African context, Guinea remains a stable country
in the sub-region that has not fallen into inter-ethnic or
civil strife. It is in the strategic interest of the United
States to support Guinea as a constructive force for peace
in a regional setting where Liberia continues as a failed,
pariah state and Côte d'Ivoire is degenerating into
open civil conflict. It is also strongly in the U.S. interest
to prevent the burgeoning and potentially destabilizing HIV/AIDS
epidemic from taking root in Guinea and undermining the progress
made in confronting its development challenges.
Back to Top ^ |