Guinea

A dust and sand haze yearly sweeps in over West Africa and can stay from November up to March. It’s the Harmattan.

The northeasterly dry wind originates and picks up particles over the central Sahara that it carries with it heading west. While most of the haze is of dust, about 15% of it is sand. In Guinea, the haze sometimes limits visibility and even blocks the sun.

The dust and sand can irritate the eyes, cause respiratory problems, and are a hazard to the aviation industry.

At the same time, the sand and dust from the Harmattan contribute to soil fertility in areas where it lands.