Independence Year : 1974
Population : 1213000
Life Expectancy : 49.0
Capital : 927
GNP : 293.00
GNP Old : 272.00
Local Name : Guiné-Bissau
Government Form : Republic
Location : Western Africa, between Guinea and Senegal, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean
Terrain : Almost all of Guinea-Bissau is low-lying and bathed daily by tidal waters that reach as much as 62 miles (100 kilometres) inland; savanna in the east.
Climate : Tropical; generally hot and humid; rainy season (Jun - Nov)
Ethnic Group : Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, others 16%
Religions : Indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%.
Official Website :
www.republica-da-guine-bissau.org
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General Information - Guinea-Bissau
Background
Guinea-Bissau was the only country in West Africa to have fought its way to independence. The war with Portugal ended in 1974, but since the country has been plagued by coups and political unrest.
In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president, VIEIRA was a key figure in struggle against Portuguese colonial rule. 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 returned from asylum to win presidential election pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation. In March 2009 President VIEIRA was killed in an assassination attack.
Guinea-Bissau is a major transit point for Latin American cocaine headed for Europe and some army officials are known to have become involved in the trade.
(from CIA - The World Factbook and others)
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