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___ Guinea-Bissau

A virtual travel guide to Guinea-Bissau. This page aims to give you a broad overview of Guinea-Bissau's art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile this page contains links to sources that will provide you with in-depth information about this Western African nation, e.g.: official web sites of Guinea-Bissau, addresses of Bissau-Guinean and foreign embassies, country guides with travel information, and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from Guinea-Bissau.

Guinea-Bissau - Bijagós Archipelago
Guinea-Bissau - Photo: world-tourism.org
  

Republic of Guinea-Bissau | República da Guiné-Bissau

Country Profile


Flag of Guinea-Bissau
Flag of Guinea-Bissau


Background:
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.
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 and 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 August 2005 former President VIEIRA was re-elected President in the second round of presidential polling. Since formally assuming office in October 2005, Vieira has pledged to pursue economic development and national reconciliation.
(from CIA - The World Factbook -- Guinea-Bissau)


border countries: Guinea, Senegal
related countries: Cape Verde, Portugal
 
where in Africa is Guinea-Bissau

Official Name:
República da Guiné-Bissau
short form: Guiné-Bissau
int'l long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
int'l short form: Guinea-Bissau
formerly: Portuguese Guinea (until 1974)

ISO Country Code: gw

Time:
Local Time = UTC (no GMT time offset)
Actual Time: Sun-July-6  20:05

Capital City: Bissau

Other Cities: Bolama (former capital of Portuguese Guinea until 1941) Bafata, Gabu, Canchungo, Farim, Cacheu.


Government:
Type: Republic, multi-party since 1991.
Independence: 24 September 1973 (proclaimed unilaterally); 10 September 1974 (de jure from Portugal).

Geography:
Location: Western Africa, between Guinea and Senegal, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean.
Area: (including Bijagós Archipelago): 36 000 sq. km (14 000 sq. mi).
Regions: Oio, Tombali, Cacheu, Bolama, Quinara, Biombo, Bafata, Gabu.
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)

People:
Nationality: Bissau-Guinean(s).
Population: 1.5 million
Ethnic groups: Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, others 16%.
Religions: Indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%.
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, French, many indigenous languages: Balanta-Kentohe 26%; Pulaar 18%; Mandjak 12%; Mandinka 11%; Pepel 9%; Biafada; Mancanha; Bidyogo; Ejamat; Mansoanka; Bainoukgunyuno; Nalu; Soninke; Badjara; Bayote%; Kobiana; Cassanga, Basary.
Literacy: 40%

Natural resources: Fish and timber. Deposits of bauxite and phosphate are not exploited; offshore petroleum.

Agriculture products: Cashews, tropical fruits, rice, peanuts, cotton, palm oil.

Industries: Very little industrial capacity.

Exports partners: India 52.2%, USA 22.2%, Nigeria 13.2% (2004)

Imports partners: Senegal 44.6%, Portugal 13.8%, China 4.2% (2004)

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF)


Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Guinea-Bissau


Diplomatic Missions
Consulate of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Provides also some information about Guinea-Bissau.
Diplomatic and Consular Community of Guinea-Bissau
Address list of Diplomatic Missions of Guinea-Bissau in Europe.

Maps
Map of Guinea-Bissau
Political map of Guinea-Bissau.
Google Earth Google Earth Guinea-Bissau
Zoomable satellite view of Guinea-Bissau.
Google Earth Google Earth Bissau
Zoomable satellite view of the capital city of Guinea-Bissau.

to Map of Africa
Political map of Africa.

 

News

Agência Bissau Media e Publicações, ABMP
Headline news from Guinea-Bissau (in Portuguese)

International News Sources
allAfrica.com: Guinea Bissau
Recent news from the West Africa republic.
Guinea-Bissau
May also have Guinea-Bissau related news; part of World News Network.
Expresso África
Guinea-Bissau related news (in Portuguese)
IRIN News
Latest news from Guinea-Bissau provided by the UN news agency.
Notícias Lusófonas: Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau related news (in Portuguese)
 

 

Arts & Culture

Tchando
Website of the Guinea-Bissau born musician.
 

 

Business & Economy

Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO)
Central Bank of West African States of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
West African Economic and Monetary Union (in French)
IZF.net, le portail de la Zone Franc CFA
Information about business and investment in the Western African countries within the monetary system of the Franc Zone - CFA. (in French)
 

Destination Guinea-Bissau - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Guinea-Bissau

Corona's Guinea-Bissau Page
A website with pictures and text from a trip to Guinea-Bissau July 25th to August 8th 1998.

Guinea-Bissau Travel Information
Lonely Planet Destination Guide abou Guinea-Bissau

Guiné-Bissau: CONTRIBUTO
A website dedicated to Guinea-Bissau (in Portuguese)

Images of Guinea-Bissau

 
 Books about Travel in Guinea-Bissau

US books 

Travel Guides Guinea-Bissau
   Travel Guides Guinea-Bissau
   Guide de tourisme et voyages en Guinée-Bissau (in French)
UK books  Guinea-Bissau Travel Guides
fr books  Guide de tourisme et voyages en Guinée-Bissau
German books  German Books: Reiseführer Guinea-Bissau

Education

INHEA: Guinea-Bissau Higher Education Profile
Profile of higher education practice in Guinea-Bissau by International Network for Higher Education in Africa.
 
 

Environment

Birds and birding in Guinea Bissau
Site provides also information about Fauna and Flora of Guinea-Bissau.

Boloma Bijagos
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Information about the archipelago of 88 islands located on the coast of Guinea-Bissau.
 
 

History

History of Guinea-Bissau
Wikipedia entry for Guinea-Bissau's history.
 
 

Additional Information on Guinea-Bissau

afrika.no - the Index on Africa - Guinea-Bissau
Africa South of the Sahara: Guinea-Bissau
Stanford University.
BBC News Country Profile: Guinea-Bissau
Background Notes: Guinea-Bissau

Governments on the WWW: Guinea-Bissau
Open Directory Project: Guinea-Bissau
Wikipedia: Guinea-Bissau
The World Factbook -- Guinea-Bissau
 
 

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The Guinea-Bissau page was last modified on: Wednesday, 25-Jun-2008 21:57:04 CEST


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