Page "Military of Guinea" Paragraph 2

Upon independence in 1958, France cut all ties and immediately began to repatriate Guinean soldiers serving in the French Army.

Of the about 22, 000 Guinean soldiers in French service, about 10, 000 decided to remain with France.

The other 12, 000 were demobilised and returned to Guinea.

The new armed forces were formed by incorporating some of the former French soldiers, after a careful screening process to determine political reliability, with members of the former territorial Gendarmie to form the People's Army of Guinea ( L ' Armee Populaire de Guinee ).

By the end of January 1959 the new army had reached a strength of around 2, 000 officers and soldiers.