Guinea-Bissau
Official Country Name
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau Overview
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 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation.
Guinea-Bissau Economy
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 2002-06.
Guinea-Bissau Location
Guinea-Bissau is located in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Region
Guinea-Bissau is located in Africa
Guinea-Bissau Population
Guinea-Bissau has population of 1,442,029 (July 2006 est.)
Guinea-Bissau Climate
Guinea-Bissau has tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Guinea-Bissau Terrain
mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Guinea-Bissau Natural Resources
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Ethnic Groups in Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau has the following ethnic groups - African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Guinea-Bissau Religions
indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Guinea-Bissau Languages
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Guinea-Bissau Capital
Guinea-Bissau capital is Bissau
Guinea-Bissau Currency
Guinea-Bissau currency is Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
Map of Guinea-Bissau
