Republican Guard (Guinea)

Republican Guard
Garde républicaine
Country Guinea
BranchRepublic of Guinea Armed Forces
TypeRepublican Guard
RoleProtection of government officials and installations
Size2,500 personnel
Garrison/HQConakry
Commanders
Commander-in-chiefPresident Alpha Condé

The Republican Guard of Guinea (French: Garde républicaine de Guinée) is the state organization of Guinea responsible for protection of government officials and buildings, and acts as a reserve force for the National Gendarmerie. It often aids the gendarmerie by assisting them in rural areas, and providing equipment and personnel for other operations. The guard is under command of the Republic of Guinea Armed Forces, and has about 2,500 personnel.[1]

It provides a military band and guard of honour for ceremonies of state as well as provides motorcycle escorts to Sekhoutoureah Presidential Palace.[2] At independence in 1958 the Orchestré de la Garde Républicaine (Band of the Republican Guard) became Guinea's first state orchestra. On 1 November 1959, it was instructed to remove all European tunes in order to nationalize the military. In later years they were split into two groups: the 1st formation (which later became the Super Boiro Band) and 2nd formation.[3]

  1. ^ Becker, Harold K., and Donna Lee. Becker. Handbook of the World's Police. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1986. Print.
  2. ^ Historical Dictionary of Guinea. Scarecrow Press. 16 March 2005. ISBN 9780810865457.
  3. ^ "Radio Africa - Guinean orchestras of the 1st Republic".