Guinea-Bissau

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. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Repùblica da Guiné-Bissau

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(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

Carlos Gomes J�nior

Area
- Total
- % water

Ranked 133rd
36,120 km²
12% / Negligible

Population \n
- Total (2002) \n
- Density

Ranked xth\n
1,345,479\n
48/km²

Independence\n
- Declared\n
- Recognised

(from Portugal)\n
24 Sep 1973\n
10 Sep 1974

Currency

CFA franc

Time zone

UTC

National anthem

Esta � a Nossa P�tria 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

\nMain 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.\nIn 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

\nMain 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

\nMain article: Regions of Guinea-Bissau\n

Guinea-Bissau is divided into nine regions (regiões):\n*Bafata\n*Biombo\n*Bissau\n*Bolama\n*Cacheu\n*Gabu\n*Oio\n*Quinara\n*Tombali.

Geography

\nMain 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

\nMain 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

\nMain 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.