Guinea-Bissau

This Page was last updated on the 12th April, 2007.

 

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Country News

Guinea-Bissau is currently very unstable following a civil war in 1998-9. An elected President, Kumba Yala, was overthrown in September 2003. He was replaced by a military government. In 2005, Joao Bernardo Viera was elected president. Previously he had ruled the country after a military coup, introducing market reforms. He was accused of human rights abuses and his nineteen years in power, he went into exile in Portugal for six years. The National Assembly recently passed a motion of no confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Gomes, a close ally of the President. On 11th April 2007 President Vieira replaced him with Martinho N'Dafa Cabi, a vice president of the former ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. The UN Security Council recently expressed concern at the deterioration of social cohesion in Guinea Bissau. Politicians reacted by forming a pact to lessen tensions. Behind the political pproblems lie economic woes: when prices for the cashew crop were liberalized in 2006, buyers refused to purchase the crop. Much of the crop was unsold, leadoing to severe hardship in an already fragile economy. State employees are waiting for their salaries which are sseveral months in arrears.

Official Name

Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Republica da Guine-Bissau)
Former Name Portuguese Guinea (Portuguese claimed Portuguese Guinea in 1446; administration established in 1630; slave trade via the Cape Verde Islands declined in the 19th century; Portuguese conquered the interior bt the second half of the 19th century; lost part of Guinea to French West Africa; country's borders established before World War I; became an overseas province of Portugal in 1952; declared independence as Guinea-Bissau.)

Capital

Bissau

Main Towns

Bafata, Bissau, Cacheu, Canchungo, Farim, Gabu

Subdivisions

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao): Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos.

Independence

23 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau, recognised by Portugal on 10 September 1974)
Constitution 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996
National Holiday Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

UN Membership

17 September 1974

OAU Membership

November 1973 – now African Union (AU)

Commonwealth

n/a

Other Organisations

In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Franc Zone (FZ), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICCt - signatory), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW - signatory), Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), West African Development Bank (WADB), West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).

Population

World Bank Figures: 1,329,310 (1999), 1,367,000 (2000), 1,406,168 (2001), 1,446,881 (2002), 1,489,209 (2003)
Other Sources: 1,124,537 (July 1995), 1,315,822 (July 2001 est.), 1,360,827 (July 2003 est.) 1,416,027 (July 2005 est.)

Area

13,948 sq. mls. (36,125 sq. kms.)

Density

28 per sq.km. (1995)

Highest Point

unnamed 869 ft. (262 m.)

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean - sea level

Neighbours

Guinea (S & E), Senegal (N)

Life Expectancy

38 years (1995), total population:  49.42 years, male:  47.12 years, female:  51.78 years (2001 est.)
total population: 46.97 years, male: 45.09 years, female: 48.91 years (2003 est.)
total population: 46.97 years male: 45.09 years female: 48.92 years (2005 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate total: 110.29 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 99.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 120.99 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 107.17 deaths/1,000 live births male: 117.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 96.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS

adult prevalence rate: 2.8% (2001 est.) 10% (2003 est.)
people living with HIV/AIDS: 17,000 (2001 est.) 17,000 (2001 est.)
deaths: 1,200 (2001 est.)

IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Guinea-Bissau - Updated: Sept 2004
Population: 1.3 million
HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: N/D
No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: N/D
No. Of People in need of ART: N/D
No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): N/D
No. Of People on ART Public Sector: N/D
No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: N/D
No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): N/D
Front Line Drug Regimen: N/D
HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: N/D
Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 2: Approved 04-Dec-03): US$1,166,801.00
Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$117,954.20
Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): US$7 million
Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: Nil
Source: USAID, WHO, Ministry of Health

Adult Literacy Rate

55% (1995), total population:  53.9%, male:  67.1%, female:  40.7% (1997 est.)
total population: 42.4%, male: 58.1%, female: 27.4% (2003 est.)

Ethnic Groups

Balanta(e) 30%, Mandinka (Mandinga) 13%, Fula 20%, Mandjak (Manjaca) 14%, Papel 7%, European and mulatto less than 1%

Languages

Portuguese (official), Creole, French, many indigenous languages: Balanta-Kentohe 26%; Pulaar 18%; Mandjak 12%; Mandinka 11%; Pepel 9%; Biafada 3%; Mancanha 3%; Bidyogo 2%; Ejamat 2%; Mansoanka 1%; Bainoukgunyuno 1%; Nalu 1%; Soninke 1%; Badjara 1%; Bayote 0,5%; Kobiana 0,04%; Cassanga 0,04%, Basary 0, 03%

Religions

Muslim 45% most people follow traditional African beliefs 50%, and there are some Christians 5%.

Type of Government

Republic, multiparty since mid-1991

President

Joao Bernardo Vieira (formerly a military ruler, sworn in as President on 1 October 2005)

Prime Minister

Since 11th April 2007, Martinho N'Dafa Cabi, (a vice president of the former ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde). He replaced Carlos Gomes Junior (PM since 9 May 2004)

Political Parties

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC); Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING); Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba Fata Movement (RGB-MB); Guinean Civic Forum (FCG); International League for Ecological Protection (LIPE); National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Party for Democratic Convergence (PCD); Social Renovation Party (PRS); Union for Change (UM); United Social Democratic Party(PUSD)

Ruling Party

Social Renovation Party (PRS)(last held 28 November 1999)

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States. Previously the Guinea-Bissau peso (GWP)(100 centavos) was used
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

GDP

US$219 (1992) U$257m (1995)
GDP US$251 million (2003 est.)
 purchasing power parity - US$1.008 billion (2004 est.)
per capitapurchasing power parity - US$800 (2002 est.)
per capita purchasing power parity - US$700 (2004 est.)

GNP

US$250 (1992) US$220 (1994) US$250 (1995)
Per Capita Income  
Population Below Poverty Line NA%
Land Use arable land: 10.67% permanent crops: 8.82% other: 80.51% (2001) Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Oil and Natural Gas production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 2,500 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001). Unexploited offshore oil reserves could provide much-needed revenue in the long run.
Military Military branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 318,711 (2003 est.)
males age 18-49: 288,770 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$5.6 million, 2.8% of GDP (FY02) US$8.9 million, 3.1% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received US$115.4 million (1995)
Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$39 (1999), US$59 (2000), US$42 (2001), US$41 (2002), US$98 (2003)

Debt

Severely indebted (HIPC)
World Bank Figures: US$700,000,000 (2000), US$424,000,000 (2001), US$456,000,000 (2002), US$496,500,000 (2003)
Other Sources: US$742m (1994) US$894m (1995) US$964m (1998 est.) US$941.5 million (2000 est.)

Major Imports

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
foodstuffs (US$18.1 million, 2001 est.), machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products (2002)

Imports from

Portugal 22.9%, Senegal 15.6%, China 10.4%, Thailand 5.2% (2001)
Senegal 19.6%, Portugal 19.1%, India 15.4%, China 4.3%, France, Netherlands (2002 est.) (US$6 million, 2002 est.) US$104 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
US$59 million (f.o.b., 2003 est.)
enegal 23.4%, Portugal 20.4%, China 8.2%, Netherlands 5.8% (2004)

Major Exports

cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
cashews (US$45.1 million, 2001 est.), cotton (US$1.1 million, 2001 est.), shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber (2001)

Exports to

Uruguay 40.7%, Thailand 27.9%, India 25.7%, Portugal 1.4% (2001)
India 50.49%, Uruguay 19.1%, Thailand 19%, Italy 2.6% (2002) US$54 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
US$40 million (f.o.b., 2003 est.)
India 54.9%, US 24.2%, Nigeria 12.7%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

We try to have each fact sheet up to date and as accurate as possible.
If you notice any mistakes, or have suggestions on items which could be added, please let us know by emailing to: suttonlink@dial.pipex.com

The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 12 April, 2007

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