Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In August 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president in the second round of presidential polling. Since formally assuming office in October 2005, Vieira has pledged to pursue economic development and national reconciliation.
Country profile: Guinea-Bissau
Once hailed as a potential model for African development, Guinea-Bissau is now one of the poorest countries in the world. It has a massive foreign debt and an economy which relies heavily on foreign aid.
Compounding this, the country experienced a bitter civil war in the late 1990s in which thousands were killed, wounded and displaced.
Formerly Portuguese Guinea, Guinea-Bissau won independence from Portugal in 1974 after a long struggle spearheaded by the left-wing African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). For the next six years post-independence leader Luis Cabral presided over a command economy.
AT-A-GLANCE- Politics: President Joao Bernardo Vieira's current term began when he won elections in 2005. He seized power in 1980 and was ousted in 1999. Country's most recent (bloodless) coup was in 2003
- Economy: Political instability and mismanagement have undermined the economy. Country is dependent on primary crops - mainly cashew nuts - and subsistence agriculture. Government often struggles to pay wages.
- International: The army has clashed with Casamance separatists from neighbouring Senegal, prompting thousands of civilians to flee the border area in 2006
In 1980 he was overthrown by his army chief, Joao Vieira, who accused him of corruption and mismanagement. Mr Vieira led the country towards a market economy and a multi-party system, but was accused of crony capitalism, corruption and autocracy. In 1994 he was chosen as president in Guinea-Bissau's first free elections.
Four years later he was ousted after he dismissed his army chief, thereby triggering a crippling civil war. This eventually ended after foreign mediation led to a truce, policed by West African peacekeepers, and free elections in January 2000.
The victor in the poll, Kumba Yala, was ousted in a bloodless military coup in September 2003. The military chief who led the coup said the move was, in part, a response to the worsening economic and political situation.
The country's vital cashew nut crop provides a modest living for most of Guinea-Bissau's farmers and is the main source of foreign exchange.
- Full name: The Republic of Guinea-Bissau
- Population: 1.6 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Bissau
- Area: 36,125 sq km (13,948 sq miles)
- Major languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, African languages
- Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity Life expectancy: 43 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) = 100 centimes
- Main exports: Cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn timber
- GNI per capita: US $180 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .gw
- International dialling code: +245
President: Joao Bernardo Vieira
Elections in June 2005, intended to cap years of coups and military dictatorships, marked the end of a caretaker government that took over after former president Kumba Yala was deposed in 2003.
Former military ruler and recent exile Joao Bernardo Vieira was declared the winner of the poll. Election officials said he won 52% of a run-off vote, beating his rival Malam Bacai Sanha.
Rival supporters clashed in the capital over the initial results and Mr Sanha's party alleged fraud. But EU observers declared the poll to be free and fair and the president took office in October, promising to foster reconciliation and national unity.
Mr Vieira returned to Guinea-Bissau in April 2005 after six years of exile in Portugal. He said he had come back as a "soldier of peace".
He ran as an independent, campaigning among the young and unemployed.
Mr Vieira, sometimes known as "Nino", ruled Guinea-Bissau for 19 years after taking power in a military coup in 1980. He liberalised markets and introduced multi-party politics; however, critics accused him of human rights abuses.
Having trained in China, he was a guerrilla commander in the country's campaign for independence. He led the armed forces after independence in 1974.
The overthrow of Kumba Yala in 2003 put an end to an increasingly repressive media environment. Journalists had been detained, and the Portuguese broadcaster RTP Africa had been taken off the air over its coverage of Guinea-Bissau.
Broadcasters face many challenges, not least the lack of a reliable power supply. Private radio stations operate alongside the state-run broadcaster.
There are few private newspapers, but the lack of a vibrant private media scene may be due more to financial constraints than to government interference.
The press
Television
Radio
News agency
One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. However, offshore oil prospecting has begun and could lead to much-needed revenue in the long run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, have resulted in continued low growth in 2002-05.
Guinean natural resources include fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying further inland
Guinean religion is indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%.
Natural hazards in Guinea-Bissau include hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires.
Travel Advice on Guinea-Bissau
SUMMARY
- Following elections in 2005, there has been a period of stability even if the political atmosphere in Guinea Bissau remains tense. There has been some social unrest, including in connection with unpaid salaries. You should avoid political demonstrations or rallies.
- The Casamance region in south western Senegal remains affected by incidents involving separatist rebel groups. You should avoid travel to Guinea Bissau by road through the western Casamance because of the recent increase in conflict and isolated incidents of banditry. Please see the Senegal travel advice for more information.
- Water is often unsafe, and you should only drink bottled water. There are occasional outbreaks of cholera. You should take sensible hygiene precautions.
- There is no British Embassy in Guinea-Bissau. The British Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau resides in Dakar, Senegal. However, the British Honorary Consul, Mr Jan Van Maanen, can offer limited consular assistance.
- Very few British nationals visit each year. We are not aware of any British nationals who have required consular assistance in Guinea-Bissau in the past year. Document and cash theft has been experienced in the past.
- The threat from terrorism is low. Guinea-Bissau's north western border area adjoining the western portion of the Casamance region of Senegal is subject to insecurity, and there has been a recent resurgence of violence including military action.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Crime
Crime rates in Guinea-Bissau are not high but Guinea-Bissau is an extremely poor country in a severe economic crisis. You should take sensible precautions. Do not carry valuables in public.
Political Situation
Following elections in 2005, there has been a period of stability even if the political atmosphere in Guinea Bissau remains tense. There has been some social unrest, including in connection with unpaid salaries. You should avoid political demonstrations or rallies.
Guinea-Bissau: Country Profile
Local Travel
You should be aware that Guinea-Bissau's north western border area adjoining the western portion of the Casamance region of Senegal was in 2006 subject to insecurity involving Senegalese rebel and criminal groups and the Guinea-Bissau military While the military action looks unlikely to be repeated, there remains a risk of action by criminal groups in this area.
Traffic is generally light in Guinea-Bissau but road conditions (including in the capital) and driving standards are poor. You should take suitable precautions especially in the rainy season (June to October). Because of unseen hazards, you should avoid road travel at night.
Air Safety
The European Commission has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the European Union. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
HEALTH
Medical facilities in Guinea‑Bissau are extremely limited.
Water is often unsafe; you are advised to drink bottled water and avoid ice cubes. There are occasional outbreaks of cholera. Since June 2006,one particularly serious outbreak of cholera affected over 10,000 people, with over 200 fatalities but this is now considered to be under control. If you take sensible hygiene precautions you are unlikely to be affected. We advise that you take particular care and recommend that you drink only boiled/bottled water. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Guinea-Bissau you should consult a doctor promptly.
Malaria and other tropical diseases are prevalent, especially during the rainy season (July-October). You should consider taking anti malarial medication, and using insect repellent. More than three quarters of British travellers who contracted malaria in 2005 did not take preventive measures, such as malaria prevention tablets. However, malaria can occur despite appropriate prevention, and therefore you should promptly seek medical care in the event of a fever or flu-like illness in the first year following your return from travelling to a malaria risk country. Before travelling you should seek medical advice about the malaria risk in Guinea-Bissau.
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at www.dh.gov.uk
GENERAL