Guinea-Bissau

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The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country on the Atlantic coast of western Africa. The small country, a former Portuguese colony, is bounded on the north by Senegal, to the south and east by Guinea, and to the west by the Atlantic. Its capital is Bissau.

Repùblica da Guiné-Bissau

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: Unidade, Luta, Progresso (Portuguese: Unity, Struggle, Progress)
Official language	Portuguese
Capital	Bissau (Note: Former President Kumba Yala decided to change the capital city to Buba, but it is unclear if the plan will go forward.)
President	Henrique Rosa
Prime minister	Artur Sanha
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 133rd 36,120 km² 12% / Negligible
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked xth 1,345,479 48/km²
Independence  - Declared  - Recognised	(from Portugal) 24 Sep 1973 10 Sep 1974
Currency	CFA franc
Time zone	UTC
National anthem	Esta e a Nossa Patrai Bem Amada
Internet TLD	.gw
Calling Code	245

Table of contents

1 History 2 Politics 3 Regions 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links

History

Main article: History of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau was once the kingdom of Gabù, part of the Mali Empire; parts of the kingdom subsisted until the 18th century. Though the rivers and coast of this area were among the first places colonized by the Portuguese, and they began the slave trade in the 17th century, they did not explore the interior until the 19th century. A rebellion beginning in 1956 by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) consolidated its hold on the country by 1973. Independence came with the Portuguese revolution of 1974. Independence was unilaterally declared on September 24. The country was controlled by a revolutionary council until 1984. The first multi-party elections were held in 1994, but an army uprising in 1998 led to the president's ouster and a bloody civil war. Elections were held in 2000 and Kumba Yala was elected. In September 2003 a coup took place in which the military arrested Yala, because "he was unable to solve the problems". After being delayed several times, legislative elections were held in April 2004.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau has a multi-party National People's Assembly, as well as a president, both elected by popular vote. The president appoints the prime minister after consultation with the parties in the assembly. The former president, Kumba Yala, belongs to the Social Renovation Party or PRS; other parties in the assembly include the Guinea-Bissau Resistance and PAIGC.

Regions

Main article: Regions of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is divided into nine regions (regiões):

• Bafata
• Biombo
• Bissau
• Bolama
• Cacheu
• Gabu
• Oio
• Quinara
• Tombali.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Guinea-Bissau This small, tropical country lies at a low altitude; its highest point is 300 metres. The interior is savanna, and the coast line is swampy plain. Its monsoon-like rainy season alternates with periods of hot, dry harmattan winds blowing from the Sahara. The Bijagos Archipelago extends out to sea.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau is among the 20 poorest countries of the world. Its farming and fishing economy was badly disrupted by the 1998-99 civil war. It has a foreign debt of $US 921 million and is subject to an IMF structural adjustment program.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Guinea-Bissau The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse with distinct languages, customs, and social structures, the main spoken languages is Portuguese creole (44%); Portuguese language is spoken by 14%. Most people are farmers, with traditional religious beliefs (animism); 45% are Muslim, principally Fula and Mandinka-speaker concentrated in the north and northeast. Other important groups are the Balanta and Papel, living in the southern coastal regions, and the Manjaco and Mancanha, occupying the central and northern coastal areas.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Guinea-Bissau See also: List of writers from Guinea-Bissau

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Guinea-Bissau
• Transportation in Guinea-Bissau
• Military of Guinea-Bissau
• Foreign relations of Guinea-Bissau
• Public holidays in Guinea-Bissau

External links

• Map of Guinea-Bissau
• United States consular information sheet/travel advisory for Guinea-Bissau