Map of Guinea | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 245,857 km²
Land: 245,717 km²
Water: 140 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania
Country comparison total: 4,046 km
Country comparison border countries: (6) Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km

Land boundaries
Total: 4,046 km
Border countries: (6) Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km

Coastline: 320 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Elevation
Highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 472 m

Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Land use
Agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 26.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 15.4% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 950 km² (2012)

Major rivers
By length in km: Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km
By length in km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 km²), Senegal (456,397 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 226 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Geography
Note: the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands


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Population
Distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 13,986,179
Male: 6,985,606
Female: 7,000,573 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.74% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 43.7% (2018 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Guinean(s)
Adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups: Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)

Languages: French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages
Note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

Religions: Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 82.4
Youth dependency ratio: 76.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.1
Potential support ratio: 16.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 19.2 years
Female: 19.6 years

Population growth rate: 2.74% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 35.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 37.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2018 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 553 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 62.7 years
Female: 66.6 years

Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 10.9% (2018)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 23.1% of population
Unimproved total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0.5% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 90.9% of population
Improved rural: 38.7% of population
Improved total: 58% of population
Unimproved urban: 9.1% of population
Unimproved rural: 61.3% of population
Unimproved total: 42% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.3% (2018)

Education expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 45.3%
Male: 61.2%
Female: 31.3% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 8 years (2014)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 8.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
Conventional short form: Guinea
Local long form: République de Guinée
Local short form: Guinée
Former: French Guinea
Etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Conakry
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name Cona, a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word nakiri, which in Susu means 'the other bank' or 'the other side'; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: 'I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri),' which over time became Conakry

Administrative divisions: 7 regions administrative (administrative regions) and 1 gouvenorat (governorate)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore

Dependent areas

Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Constitution
History: previous 1958, 1990; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d’etat; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated
Amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020

Legal system: civil law system based on the French model

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: na

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)
Cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Note: on 5 September 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature
Elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020
Note 1: a new election timetable has not been announced by the transitional government
Note 2: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president
Election results: 2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%; 2015: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 57.8%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 31.4%, other 10.8%

Legislative branch
Description: formerly the People's National Assembly
Elections: 81 members to the Transitional National Council were appointed by the transitional president Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA on 22 January 2022; elections for a permanent legislature had not been announced as of late January 2022
Elections results: 81 members of the National Transitional Council appointed on 22 January 2022 by the transitional president; the members represent all of the country's socio-professional organizations and political parties
Note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; in January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed; in February 2024, Guinea's military leaders dissolved the government

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court - suspended on 5 September 2021
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve 9-year terms until age 65
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts

Political parties and leaders: African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE , Alliance for National Renewal or ARN , Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA , Bloc Liberal or BL , Citizen Generation or GECI , Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC , Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR , Democratic National Movement or MND, Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP , Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG , Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG , Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG , Front for the National Alliance or FAN , Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP , Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE , Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD , Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD , Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD , Guinean Rally for Development or RGD , Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD , Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR , Modern Guinea , Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD , National Committee for Reconciliation and Development , National Front for Development or FND , National Union for Prosperity or UNP , National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN , New Democratic Forces or NFD , New Generation for the Republic or NGR , New Guinea or NG , New Political Generation or NGP , Party for Progress and Change or PPC , Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT , Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES , Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP , Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN , Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD , Rally for the Guinean People or RPG , Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG , Rally for the Republic or RPR , Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG, Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR , Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR , Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG , Union of Democratic Forces or UFD a or UFDG , Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG , Union of Republican Forces or UFR , Unity and Progress Party or PUP

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023)
In the us chancery: 2,112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 986-4,300
In the us fax: [1] (202) 986-3,800
In the us email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/" target="_blank">[link]
In the us consulates: Los Angelos
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Troy Damian FITRELL (since January 2022)
From the us embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
From the us mailing address: 2,110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20,521-2,110
From the us telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00
From the us fax: [224] 65-10-42-97
From the us email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity
Note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal

National symbols: elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green

National anthem
Name: 'Liberte' (Liberty)
Lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
Note: adopted 1958

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $56.655 billion (2023 est.); $52.918 billion (2022 est.); $50.543 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 7.06% (2023 est.); 4.7% (2022 est.); 3.9% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $4,000 (2023 est.); $3,800 (2022 est.); $3,700 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 52% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 12.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 39.2% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -29.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 28.2% (2023 est.)
Industry: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Services: 31.9% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: cassava, rice, groundnuts, oil palm fruit, maize, fonio, plantains, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

Industrial production growth rate: 11.47% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 4.401 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2023 est.); 5.33% (2022 est.); 5.77% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 8.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 43.7% (2018 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt: 37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 4.81% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.8% (2023 est.); 10.49% (2022 est.); 12.6% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $3.35 billion (2022 est.); $4.639 billion (2021 est.); $2.685 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $8.898 billion (2022 est.); $10.266 billion (2021 est.); $8.996 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 37%, India 27%, UAE 25%, Switzerland 3%, Spain 2% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: gold, aluminum ore, coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, cocoa beans, fish (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $5.749 billion (2022 est.); $5.353 billion (2021 est.); $6.314 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 37%, India 10%, Netherlands 8%, UAE 4%, Belgium 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, rice, garments, plastic products, wheat (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.499 billion (2020 est.); $1.379 billion (2019 est.); $1.242 billion (2018 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $3.329 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 47.7% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 91%
Access electrification rural areas: 21.3%
Installed generating capacity: 1.191 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.625 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 418.8 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 33.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 65.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 30,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 4.502 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 5,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 4.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 4.891 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 13.795 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army (Armée de terre), Air Force (Armée de l'air), Navy (Armée de mer), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) (2024)
Note: the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials; Guinea's military and security forces are sometimes collectively referred to as the Defense and Security Forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3X

Airports: 16 (2024)

Heliports: 1 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 44,301 km
Paved: 3,346 km
Unpaved: 40,955 km (2018)

Waterways: 1,300 km (2011) (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: NA