Conakry - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
In the past two years, there has been political violence and there is currently a coup d’etat, with gunshots heard in many neighborhoods. There is a military command at the moment. We have had to travel in armored vehicles periodically. I do not feel unsafe. I have been asked for bribes by police, but when you say no, it’s shrugged off. - Sep 2022
Conakry is objectively the safest place I've ever lived, including my hometown in the US (and probably your hometown, if you’re from any major city in the States)! Street crime is uncommon, and foreigners are afforded particular deference. There are occasional street manifestations that can turn violent, but these are always announced well beforehand both by the organizers and by your Embassy, so you know where not to go. Transit is the most dangerous aspect of life here. People can be reckless, and crashes are frequent. Thankfully, poor road conditions, poor vehicle conditions, frequent speed bumps, and traffic jams all conspire to keep speed pretty low, so you won't be at risk of many fatal accidents in your car. Motorcyclists are a different story, as they go faster and are less protected. Don't ride motorcycles in Conakry! Do not share your telephone number with unknown people. They are not going to hurt you or scam you or even ask for money, but they are going to call you a lot of times, just to say hi, check in to see how you’re doing, make a marriage proposal, etc. - Jun 2021
Civil unrest is frequent. I have heard there are often protests that evolve into participants burning tires in the road, throwing rocks at drivers in their cars, robbing them, etc. Pickpocketing and purse snatching are common. I've heard home robberies also occur, and I think it is advisable to have a guard. If you have a vehicle accident and are a foreigner, I feel like you should be prepared for an angry mob to surround your car. I have not seen regulations, stop signs, or lines on the road here. There seems to be no concept of driving safety, signaling, or right of way. Traffic is horrendous, in my opinion, and driving is very stressful. I have not found any trash collection or waste management system here, so people just drop garbage everywhere and leave it. - Nov 2019
Opportunistic crime whether on the street or home burglary. - May 2016
About a year ago there was a rash of non-violent burglaries in several expat homes, though these seemed to have stopped. Otherwise, it's a pretty safe city. - Dec 2014
Not many problems. I have heard that some houses were apparently broken into, and the security forces sometimes try to shake people down, but the dip plates usually protect us from that. - Sep 2009
There are definite security issues -- crime, high military presence, recent military coup, etc. - May 2009
It's rare for expats to be specifically targeted for serious crime, although some isolated carjackings were reported in 2007. As in any large city, be careful. Expats will be assumed to be wealthy and there may be attempts to take advantage of them either by quoting ridiculously inflated prices for goods or services, or, more likely, asking for loans and gifts. If you don't like to haggle and it bothers you to be charged $.50 a kilo for mangos while the Guinean next to you is charged $.15 a kilo, don't come here. - Mar 2008
