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The country of Guinea is still adjusting to life after its recent coup d’état. FRANCE 24 reporters Franck Berruyer and Catherine Norris-Trent went to one of the capital city’s most dangerous neighborhoods to see what some of the poorest citizens think of the new military regime. They found residents there are full of optimism for the future.

A few kilometers from Conakry city centre lies a bustling neighborhood known as ‘Baghdad’, because this is where violence often flares up when there’s unrest in Guinea. The last, bloody strike in 2007 began here. It’s a busy market area, not within easy reach of the police. Conditions are cramped, the population poor.

Mariam Diallo, a mother of four, says: “Look at this ! One fish for one euro 50 ! I haven’t got enough money for that!”

And, yet, during Guinea’s recent coup d’état, the Baghdad neighborhood remained calm and life is pretty much fully back to normal here. Long term resident Hadja thinks people have high hopes for the future.

Hadja Dia Kafofano, a mother of seven, says: “There weren’t any problems this time round in the neighbourhood because people were really fed up of the former president, people really wanted change. We don’t know anything about this new president, but for the moment we’re accepting him because we have hope.” Guinea’s military have promised free elections, sparking optimism among the young, who’ve only ever known the old regime.

“With democracy the country will change, and then people will be able to demand everything they need!” says Sabiato Diallo. But basic infrastructure in the Baghdad neighborhood is poor. Electricity shortages are routine. Some pay for petrol generators to fuel their businesses.

"There’s rarely electricity here, and when there is it’s only once a week," says Adoulai Bademba Diallo, a clothing factory worker. “We work with machines, so we need it!”

But here in Guinea, there’s always a solution. People make the best of what they’ve got. Factory owner Aherno Amoudo Barry welcomes the coup d’état, even if the new leaders aren’t from his family’s ethnic group.

“The fact that it’s change is important; it’s not the fact that the leader is Peul, Sousou or Malingué," says Barry. What’s important is that the man in charge is honest.”

Guinea’s new leaders have their work cut out if they want to sustain hope and avoid more unrest in neighborhoods like Baghdad. While the area is currently brimming with hope, it is also filled with signs of neglect.