Polygamy in Guinea
Polygamy in Guinea is generally illegal. Polygamy is regulated under the new 2019 family law.[1] The new regulations stipulate that a marriage is presumed to be monogamous; however a couple may legally enter into a polygynous marriage if the groom declares that he is opting for polygyny during the marriage ceremony and the bride gives "explicit consent". The new law is the result of a long legislative battle between those who wanted free polygamy without restrictions and those who wanted a complete ban.[2]
Under the previous law polygamy was banned for civil marriages, but the law was not enforced.[3] Polygamy was widely practiced in religious marriages.[4]
Prevalence of polygamy[edit]
The prevalence of polygamy in Guinea is one of the highest in the world, although it is today less common than in the past. UNICEF reported in 2005 that 53.4% of Guinean women aged 15–49 were in polygamous marriages.[5] 29.8% of girls aged between 15 and 19 were in polygamous marriages.[6] In 2020, it was estimated that about 26% of marriages were polygamous (29% Muslim and 10% Christian).[7]
Guinea is part of the "polygamy belt", a part of West and Central Africa that stretches across Africa, from Senegal to Tanzania, in which polygamy is very common and strongly rooted in culture and society.[8][9]
Guinea is estimated (as of 2020) to have the sixth highest polygamy rate in the world (after Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger and Nigeria).[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Kiunguyu, Kylie (2019-06-06). "Guinea gives first wives the legal right to approve a polygamous marriage". This is africa. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "Guinea: Parliament Approves Civil Code That Would Legalize Polygamy". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "Guinea: Parliament Approves Civil Code That Would Legalize Polygamy". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ "Guinea: Controversy about the new polygamy law | West Africa Gateway | Portail de l'Afrique de l'Ouest". www.west-africa-brief.org. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ ""Early Marriage A Harmful Traditional Practice - A Statistical Exploration", UNICEF, 2005, p. 38" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
- ^ ""Early Marriage A Harmful Traditional Practice - A Statistical Exploration", UNICEF, 2005, p. 38" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
- ^ Kramer, Stephanie. "Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ Fenske, James (2013-11-09). "African polygamy: Past and present". VoxEU.org. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ Kramer, Stephanie. "Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ Kramer, Stephanie. "Polygamy is rare around the world and mostly confined to a few regions". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2022-02-17.