Sonfonia-Lac Welcomes the Future Jacques Chirac International School in Conakry

A successful housing policy does not end with buildings and roads.

It creates ecosystems.

That is precisely what is now taking shape in Sonfonia-Lac, where the first stone of the future Jacques Chirac International School was officially laid on Monday, May 25, 2026.

The project marks another major milestone in the transformation of this fast-growing residential district on the outskirts of Conakry. Only weeks ago, the government inaugurated 280 new social housing units in the area. But modern urban development requires more than homes — it requires quality infrastructure capable of supporting families, education, and long-term community growth.

This new international school aims to become one of those strategic pillars.

A Strategic Alliance Between Guinean and Moroccan Expertise

The project is led by the Guinean group Guicopres, through its real estate subsidiary Kakandé Immo, in partnership with Morocco’s prestigious Hayan Education group chaired by Her Royal Highness Lalla Soukaïna.

The institution draws inspiration from the renowned Groupe Scolaire Jacques Chirac in Rabat, widely recognized as one of Morocco’s leading educational models.

The future Conakry campus is expected to open in 2027 and aims to secure accreditation from the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad), a benchmark that guarantees globally recognized academic standards within the French educational system.

Architecturally, the project is ambitious.

Plans include:

• Five multi-story academic blocks
• A dedicated administrative building
• 80 classrooms
• Digital learning facilities
• Libraries and research spaces
• A large auditorium
• Modern sports infrastructure

The objective is clear: create a modern, multilingual, internationally competitive educational environment capable of training the next generation of Guinean leaders.

Education as a Strategic Infrastructure

During the ceremony, attended by several government officials — including Justice Minister Ibrahima Sory 2 Tounkara representing the Prime Minister — speakers repeatedly emphasized one central message:

Guinea’s future competitiveness will depend on the quality of its human capital.

For Kerfalla Person Camara (KPC), CEO of Guicopres, the project goes far beyond real estate development.

“This educational project is not simply preparing students to pass exams,” he explained. “It is preparing a generation capable of actively participating in the economic, technological, and social transformation of tomorrow.”

Her Royal Highness Lalla Soukaïna reinforced the same vision, describing the future school as:
“A multilingual, connected, and civic-minded institution designed to nurture creativity and critical thinking from kindergarten through high school.”

A New Urban Model for Conakry

The arrival of a high-standard international school dramatically increases the strategic value of Sonfonia-Lac.

Globally, world-class schools often become catalysts for urban transformation. They attract middle-class families, professionals, international organizations, and long-term private investment.

Guinea appears determined to follow the same trajectory.

By combining housing, education, and infrastructure development within the same ecosystem, Sonfonia-Lac is evolving from a residential project into a true modern urban hub.

More importantly, the project aligns perfectly with the ambitions of the Simandou 2040 vision: retaining talent inside the country and building the skilled workforce needed for Guinea’s next economic chapter.

Because in the end, the infrastructure that matters most is not concrete.

It is human capital.