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.
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| 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 Júnior | ||||
| 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 é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada | ||||
| Internet TLD | .gw | ||||
| Calling Code | 245 | ||||
| Table of contents |
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2 Politics 3 Regions 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links |
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 Portugese 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.
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.
Guinea-Bissau is divided into nine regions (regiões):
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.
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.
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.
See also: List of writers from Guinea-Bissau
History
Main article: History of Guinea-BissauPolitics
Main article: Politics of Guinea-BissauRegions
Main article: Regions of Guinea-BissauGeography
Main article: Geography of Guinea-BissauEconomy
Main article: Economy of Guinea-BissauDemographics
Main article: Demographics of Guinea-BissauCulture
Main article: Culture of Guinea-BissauMiscellaneous topics
This article incorporates information from The World Factbook, which is in the public domain.
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