Guinea-Bissau

República da Guiné-Bissau Republic of Guinea-Bissau Flag Emblem

Motto: "Unidade, Luta, Progresso" (Portuguese)
"Unity, Struggle, Progress" Anthem: Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada (Portuguese)
Capital
(and largest city) Bissau1
11°52′N, 15°36′W Official languages Portuguese Recognised regional languages Crioulo Demonym Guinean Government Republic - President João Bernardo Vieira - Prime Minister Martinho Ndafa Kabi Independence from Portugal - Declared September 24, 1973 - Recognised September 10, 1974 Area - Total 36,544 km² (136th)
13,948 sq mi - Water (%) 22.4 Population - July 2005 estimate 1,586,000 (148th) - 2002 census 1,345,479 - Density 44/km² (154th)
114/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate - Total $1.167 billion (165th) - Per capita $736 (177th) Gini (1993) 47 (high) HDI (2007) ▲ 0.374 (low) (175th) Currency West African CFA franc (XOF) Time zone GMT (UTC+0) Internet TLD .gw Calling code +245

The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (pronounced /ˈgɪni bɨˈsaʊ/; Portuguese: República da Guiné-Bissau, IPA: [ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɐ giˈnɛ biˈsau]), is a country in western Africa, and one of the smallest nations in continental Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west. Formerly the Portuguese colony of Portuguese Guinea, upon independence, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's name in order to prevent confusion between itself and the Republic of Guinea.

1 History
2 Politics
3 Regions and sectors
4 Geography
- 4.1 Major cities
5 Climate
6 Economy
7 Demographics
8 Culture
9 Matriarchy
10 See also
11 References
12 Sources
13 External links

History

Main article: History of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau was once part of the kingdom of Gabu (Kaabu), part of the Mali Empire; parts of the kingdom persisted until the eighteenth century. Although the rivers and coast of this area were among the first places colonized by the Portuguese, who began slave trade in the 17th century, the interior was not explored until the nineteenth century.

An armed rebellion beginning in 1956 by the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) under the leadership of Amílcar Cabral gradually consolidated its hold on the country. Unlike guerilla movements in other Portuguese colonies, the PAIGC rapidly extended its military control over large portions of the country, aided by the jungle-like terrain and large quantities of arms from Cuba, China, the Soviet Union, and other African countries. Cuba also agreed to supply artillery experts, doctors and technicians.[1] The PAIGC even managed to acquire a significant anti-aircraft capability in order to defend itself against aerial attack. By 1973, the PAIGC was in control of most of the country. Independence was unilaterally declared on September 24, 1973, and was recognized by a 93-7 UN General Assembly vote in November 1973. [1] Recognition became universal following the 1974 socialist-inspired military coup in Portugal.

Bissau

Following independence local soldiers that fought along with the Portuguese army were slaughtered by the thousands. A small number escaped to Portugal or to other African nations. The most famous massacre occurred in Bissorã. In 1980 PAIGC admitted in its newspaper "Nó Pintcha" (dated 29/11/1980) that many were executed and buried in unmarked collective graves in the woods of Cumerá, Portogole and Mansabá.

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 ousting and the Guinea-Bissau Civil War. Elections were held in 2000 and Kumba Ialá was elected president.

In September 2003, a coup took place in which the military arrested Ialá on the charge of being "unable to solve the problems." After being delayed several times, legislative elections were held in March 2004 . A mutiny of military factions in October 2004 resulted in the death of the head of the armed forces, and caused widespread unrest.

In June 2005, presidential elections were held for the first time since the coup that deposed Ialá. Ialá returned as the candidate for the PRS, claiming to be the legitimate president of the country, but the election was won by former president João Bernardo Vieira, deposed in the 1998 coup. Vieira was a candidate for one of the factions of the PAIGC. Vieira beat Malam Bacai Sanhá in a runoff-election, but Sanhá refused initially to concede, claiming that the elections have been fraudulent in two constituencies, including the capital, Bissau.

Despite reports that there had been an influx of arms in the weeks leading up to the election and reports of some "disturbances during campaigning" - including attacks on the presidential palace and the Interior Ministry by as-yet-unidentified gunmen - European monitors labelled the election as "calm and organized". [2]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Guinea-Bissau

Ministery of Justice, Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is a republic. In the past, the government has been highly centralized and multiparty governance has been in effect since mid-1991. The president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. At the legislative level, there is a unicameral "Assembleia Nacional Popular" (National People's Assembly) made up of 100 members. They are popularly elected from multi-member constituencies to serve a four-year term. At the judicial level, there is a "Supremo Tribunal da Justiça" (Supreme Court) which consists of nine justices appointed by the president. They serve at the pleasure of the president.

João Bernardo Vieira

João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira became President of Guinea-Bissau in 2005. Vieira returned to power in 2005 after winning the presidential election only six years after being ousted from office during a civil war. Previously, he held power for 19 years after taking power in 1980 in a bloodless coup. In that action, he toppled the government of Luís Cabral.

Regions and sectors

Main articles: Regions of Guinea-Bissau and Sectors of Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions (regiões) and one autonomous sector (sector autónomo). These in turn are subdivided into thirty-seven sectors. The regions are:

* autonomous sector

Geography

Typical scenery in Guinea-Bissau Satellite image of Guinea-Bissau, generated from raster graphics data supplied by The Map Library

Main article: Geography of Guinea-Bissau

At 13,945 sq mi. (36,120 km²), Guinea-Bissau is nearly identical in size to Taiwan, and somewhat larger than the US state of Maryland. This small, tropical country lies at a low altitude; its highest point is 984 feet (300 m). The interior is savanna, and the coastline 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.

Major cities

Cities in Guinea-Bissau Rank City Population Region 1979 Census 2005 estimate 1 Bissau109,214 388,028 Bissau2 Bafatá13,429 22,521 Bafatá3 Gabú7,803 14,430 Gabú4 BissorãN/A 12,688 Oio5 Bolama9,100 10,769 Bolama6 Cacheu7,600 10,490 Cacheu7 Bubaque8,400 9,941 Bolama8 Catió5,170 9,898 Tombali9 Mansôa5,390 7,821 Oio10 BubaN/A 7,779 Quinara11 QueboN/A 7,072 Quinara12 Canchungo4,965 6,853 Cacheu13 Farim4,468 6,792 Oio14 QuinhámelN/A 3,128 Biombo15 FulacundaN/A 1,327 Quinara

Climate

Guinea-Bissau is warm all year around and there is little temperature fluctuation averaging 26.3 degrees Celsius. The average rainfall for Bissau is 2024 mm although this is almost entirely accounted for during the rainy season which falls between June and September/October. During the months of December, January, February, March and April, the country experiences drought.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Guinea-Bissau

The village of Bula

Guinea-Bissau gained its independence from Portugal in 1974 after a protracted liberation war that brought tremendous damages to the country’s economic infrastructure. The civil war that took place in 1998 and 1999 and a military coup in September 2003 again disrupted economic activity, leaving a substantial part of the economic and social infrastructure in ruins and intensifying the already widespread poverty. Following the parliamentary elections in March 2004 and presidential elections in July 2005, the country is trying to recover from the long period of instability despite a still-fragile political situation.

Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than two-thirds of its population living below the poverty line. The economy depends mainly on agriculture; fishing and cashew nuts are its major exports. A long period of political instability has resulted in depressed economic activity, deteriorating social conditions, and increased macroeconomic imbalances. The key challenges for the country in the period ahead will be to restore fiscal discipline, rebuild public administration, improve the climate for private investment, and promote economic diversification.

In April 2007, UN Office on Drugs and Crime head, Antonio Maria Costa, said he feared Guinea-Bissau could become a "narco-state" following several large cocaine seizures in the country.[3] Sadly, this seems to be occurring as Columbian cartels have used Guinea-Bissau as a transshipment point to Europe in pursuit of the European market for cocaine.[4]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Guinea-Bissau

The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse and has many distinct languages, customs, and social structures. Guinea-Bissauans can be divided into the following three ethnic groups: Fula and the Mandinka-speaking people, who comprise the largest portion of the population and are concentrated in the north and northeast; the Balanta and Papel people, who live in the southern coastal regions; and the Manjaco and Mancanha, who occupy the central and northern coastal areas. Most of the remainder are mestiços of mixed Portuguese and African descent, including a Cape Verdean minority. Portuguese natives comprise a very small percentage of Guinea-Bissauans. This deficit was directly caused by the exodus of Portuguese settlers that took place after Guinea-Bissau gained independence. The country has also a tiny Chinese population, including those of mixed Portuguese and Chinese ancestry from Macau, a former Asian Portuguese colony. Only 14% of the population speaks the official language Portuguese. 44% speak Kriol, a Portuguese-based creole language, and the remainder speaks native African languages. Most Portuguese and Mestiços speak one of the African languages and Kriol as second languages. French is also learned in schools, as the country is surrounded by French-speaking countries and a full member of the Francophonie. Most people are farmers with traditional religious beliefs (animism); 45% are Muslim, principally the Fula and Mandinka peoples; and fewer than 8% are Christian, mostly Roman Catholics.

Culture

The music of Guinea-Bissau is usually associated with the polyrhythmic gumbe genre, the country's primary musical export. However, civil unrest other factors have combined over the years to keep gumbe, and other genres, out of mainstream audiences, even in generally syncretist African countries.

The calabash is the primary musical instrument of Guinea-Bissau, and is used in extremely swift and rhythmically complex dance music. Lyrics are almost always in Guinea-Bissau Creole, a Portuguese-based creole language, and are often humorous and topical, revolving around current events and controversies, especially AIDS.

The word gumbe is sometimes used generically, to refer to any music of the country, although it most specifically refers to a unique style that fuses about ten of the country's folk music traditions. Tina and tinga are other popular genres, while extent folk traditions include ceremonial music used in funerals, initiations and other rituals, as well as Balanta brosca and kussundé, Mandinga djambadon and the kundere sound of the Bijagos islands.

Matriarchy

Caravela beach

In the Bolama archipelago, a matriarchal or matrilineal social system has survived to the present day[5], although it is currently being eroded by globalization and Christian missionary influence.[citation needed]

In this system, women choose husbands who are compelled to marry them, and religious affairs are controlled by a female priesthood.[citation needed]

References

^ Jihan El Tahri. (2007). Cuba! Africa! Revolution!. BBC Television. Retrieved on [[May 2, 2007]]. Event occurs at 50:00-60:00.
^ BBC report on Guinea-Bissau elections
^ BBC news
^ Washington Post
^ Yahoo news story on Bolama's matriarchal system

This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

Sources

Richard Andrew Lobban, Jr. and Peter Karibe Mendy, Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, third edition (Scarecrow Press, 1997) ISBN 0-8108-3226-7 (includes extensive bibliography)

External links

Find more about Guinea-Bissau on Wikipedia's sister projects: Dictionary definitions Textbooks Quotations Source texts Images and media News stories Learning resources

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v • d • e Niger-Congo-speakingnations Kordofanian Sudan

Mande

Gambia
Guinea

Guinea-Bissau
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CAR

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CAR
Chad
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Ghana
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CAR = Central African Republic DRC = Democratic Republic of the Congo

v • d • e Portuguese Empire North Africa

15th century
1415–1640 Ceuta
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16th century
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15th century
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17th century
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1687–1974 Bissau2

18th century
1728–1729 Mombassa (Mombasa)
1753–1975 São Tomé and Príncipe

19th century
1879–1974 Portuguese Guinea
1885–1975 Portuguese Congo (Cabinda)

1 Part of São Tomé and Príncipefrom 1753. 2 Part of Portuguese Guineafrom 1879.

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16th century
1506–1615 Gamru (Bandar Abbas)
1507-1643 Sohar
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1515-1648 Quriyat
1515-? Qalhat
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1521-1529? Qatif
1521?-1551? Tarut Island
1550-1551 Qatif
1588-1648 Matrah

17th century
1620-? Khor Fakkan
1621?-? As Sib
1621-1622 Qeshm
1623-? Khasab
1623-? Libedia
1624-? Kalba
1624-? Madha
1624-1648 Diba al-Hisn
1624?-? Bandar-e Kong

Indian subcontinent

15th century
1498–1545 Laccadive Islands (Lakshadweep)

16th century
Portuguese India
   1500–1663 Cochim (Kochi)
   1502–1661 Quilon (Coulão/Kollam)
   1502–1663 Cannanore (Kannur)
   1507–1657 Negapatam (Nagapattinam)
   1510–1962 Goa
   1512–1525 Calicut (Kozhikode)
   1518–1619 Paliacate (Pulicat)
   1521–1740 Chaul
   1523–1662 São Tomé de Meliapore
   1528–1666 Chittagong
   1534–1601 Salsette Island
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   1536–1662 Cranganore (Kodungallur)
   1540–1612 Surat
   1548–1658 Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)
   1559–1962 Daman and Diu
   1568–1659 Mangalore
   1579–1632 Hughli
   1598–1610 Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam)
1518–1521 Maldives
1518–1658 Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
1558–1573 Maldives

17th century
Portuguese India
1687–1749 São Tomé de Meliapore

18th century
Portuguese India
1779–1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli

East Asia and Oceania

16th century
1511–1641 Portuguese Malacca
1512–1621 Banda Islands
1512–1621 Moluccas (Maluku Islands)
   1522–1575 Ternate
   1576–1605 Ambon
   1578–1650 Tidore
1512–1665 Makassar
1553–1999 Macau
1533-1545 Ning-po
1571–1639 Decima (Dejima, Nagasaki)

17th century
1642–1975 Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1

19th century
Macau
   1864–1999 Coloane
   1851–1999 Taipa
   1890–1999 Ilha Verde

20th century
Macau
   1938–1941 Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin)

1 1975 is the date of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, the independence of East Timor was recognized by Portugal and the rest of the world.

North America and the North Atlantic Ocean

15th century
1420 Madeira
1432 Azores

16th century
1500–1579? Terra Nova (Newfoundland)
1500-1579? Labrador
1516–1579? Nova Scotia

Central and South America

16th century
1500–1822 Brazil
1536–1620 Barbados

17th century
1680–1777 Nova Colônia do Sacramento

19th century
1808–1822 Cisplatina (Uruguay)