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Guinea — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Guinea is 110,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Guinea is 1.22 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Guinea ranked at No. 1341

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Guinea ranked at No. 1452

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Guinea are reported to have 18,8103 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Guinea are reported to have 12,0744 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

Number of Homicides (any method)

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Guinea, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2007: 0.405
2004: 17.30
2002: 23.80

ProductionGun Industry

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Firearm Manufacture

In Guinea, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence6

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Guinea is reported to be US$7217 (2008)

Import Control

In Guinea, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 8 9

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Guinea is reported to be US$4,191,0927 (2009)

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Guinea is high6

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Guinea is categorised as restrictive10

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Guinea is the Chapter 2, Art. 10 of Law L/96008 of 22 July 19966

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Guinea are regulated by the Ministry of Territorial Administration6 and the Minister of Interior and Security9

Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

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Regulation of Handguns

In Guinea, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted under licence, for protection for exceptional cases only6

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Guinea, only licensed gun owners (for certain arms)6 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Licence

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Guinea are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, hunting, target shooting, collection, personal protection, security6

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Guinea is 18 years6

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Guinea must pass background checks which consider criminal, mental and domestic violence6 records

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Domestic Violence and Firearms

Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Guinea stipulates6 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Guinea, the law requires9 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Guinea, State agencies are required9 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - Private

Firearm regulations in Guinea do not include6 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners

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Firearm and Ammunition Transport Regulations

Regulations in Guinea do not include6 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Guinea, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law9

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Firearm Tracing

In Guinea, state authorities carry out9 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

African Union

In June 2006, as a member of the African Union, Guinea adopted an African Common Position to take to the Conference to Review the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), held in June 200611

Economic Community of West African States

In June 2006, as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Guinea adopted the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials. This stipulates strict controls on the transfer, manufacture, possession and security of small arms and light weapons12

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Guinea voted to begin13 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed14 by Guinea

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Guinea committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects15

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Guinea has submitted one or more national reports16 17 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Guinea, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated18 17

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Guinea, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated18

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Guinea submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is apparent18 17

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated17 by Guinea to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Guinea has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Guinea has been a Member State of the United Nations since 195819

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list20 Guinea as a Participating State
Last Updated on 29 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Sub-Saharan Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3812)Full Citation

6.

United Nations.1999.‘Analysis of Country Responses.’ United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation.Vienna:UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division,30 August. (Q1)Full Citation

7.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

8.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

9.

Guinea.2010.‘Marking, Registration and Tracing of Firearms (Marquage, Enregistrement et Traçage des Armes).’ National Report of Guinea on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guineato the United Nations,1 January. (Q4606)Full Citation

10.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A Staff Report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

11.

African Union / UNODA.2005.‘Windhoek Common Position.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:African Union / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 December. (Q3216)Full Citation

12.

ECOWAS / UNODA.2006.‘Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Economic Community of West African States Secretariat / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 June. (Q3219)Full Citation

13.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

14.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

15.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

16.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

17.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

18.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

19.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

20.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation