Country Information on Guinea-Bissau

Terrain Guinea-Bissau is mainly low-lying and swampy. A mostly low coastal plain gradually rises to a plateau region in the east. The highest point of the country (310 m) is situated in the south-east. Numerous meandering rivers cross the country from east to west and form wide estuaries near their mouths. Nearly all are navigable and serve as major transportation arteries. Climate The climate is tropical, generally hot and humid. The annual average temperature is around 25°C. The rainy season is from June to November. Annual precipitation is 2100 mm in Bolama on an average. The difference between high tide and low tide is quite remarkable on the Guinean coast. Therefore, when the rivers are in flood during the rainy season and the tide is coming in, up to one third of the country's surface may disappear under water. Fauna/Flora Given the country's diversity in natural habitats, animal and plant life abounds. The vegetation of the coastal plain mainly consists of mangrove and rain forests. Further inland to the east, there is savannah with few trees. Estuary swamps are rich in endemic species. Guinea-Bissau's nature suffers from deforestation, soil erosion, overgrazing, and overfishing. Among the animal species that inhabit the country chimpanzees, crocodiles, hippopotami, and African buffaloes can be found. History/Politics The early history of Guinea-Bissau is lost in the mists of time. The predominant ethnic groups, e.g. the Balanta and the Papel, seem to have settled there in the 12th century. The region remained part of the kingdoms of Mali and Songhai until the 15th century when it became independent. In 1446 Nuño Tristão, a Portuguese slave trader, reached the coast of present-day Guinea-Bissau. In 1687 a Portuguese settlement for trading slaves and gold was built in Bissau. Together with the Cape Verde Islands, the area remained part of a common administrative unit before becoming an autonomous colony in 1879. It was only in 1915 that the Portuguese were able to gain actual control of the country's inland areas. In 1952 the former colony Guinea-Bissau became an overseas province. Total neglect of the indigenous population finally led to the formation of a national movement in the 1950s. The movement's leader was Amilcar Cabral, the founder of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. In 1963 this party began the armed fight for independence. In 1973 the rebels proclaimed an independent republic that gained international recognition by the United Nations General Assembly. On 10 September 1974 Portugal finally recognized the independence of Guinea-Bissau. Luis de Almeida Cabral was appointed president of the new government. His government tended towards socialism and nationalized all estates in order to secure supplies for the population. In 1980 Cabral was overthrown by a military coup led by João Bernardo Vieira who sported plans on the unification of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands. President Vieira was confirmed in office in country's first free elections in 1994. However, in 1998, after having ousted the highest-ranking general, Ansumane Mane on the grounds of arms smuggling with Senegal, he had to face violent resistance by the military. Fighting between rebel and government troops went on until May 1999, when the rebels led by General Mane succeeded in overthrowing Vieira. In January 2000 presidential elections were held, in which Social Renovation Party (PRS) candidate Koumba Yalla won against PAIGC candidate Malan Bacai Sanha. Economy Subsistence farming prevails in Guinea-Bissau's economy. Vital agricultural products are rice (the country's basic food), manioc and maize. Peanuts and dates are among the most important exports. They are grown in the interior of the country, whereas cashew nuts and palm kernels, which are exported as well, are grown on the islands. Fishing has been modernized and is a chief source of export earnings. Further inland livestock breeding plays a major role. Industry is largely restricted to the processing of raw materials and food. Although Guinea-Bissau is presumably rich in mineral resources (bauxite, zinc, copper, phosphate, diamonds, and crude oil), these resources have hardly been tapped owing to a lack of financial means. The country has a road network of approximately 5,060 km, of which only around 8% are made up. Culture Guinea-Bissau's national holidays are New Year's Day (1 January), National Heroes' Day (20 January), International Women's Day (8 March), Labour Day (1 May), Day of the Martyrs of Colonialism (3 August), Independence Day (24 September), Day of the New Order (14 November), and Christmas Day (25 December). Carnival is celebrated in February, with the celebrations lasting for several days. The natives wear masks and there are traditional dances and parades. Two important Muslim holidays are the feast at the end of the Islamic month of fasting Ramadan and Tabaski. In the rural areas various ethnic groups have their own calendar with holidays of their own. A traditional Griot musical instrument is the kora, which is made from a gourd covered with a piece of cowhide and with 21 fishing lines for strings. The most popular performer is Kaba Mane. Typical of the country is also guitar music, based on Portuguese and Spanish styles with a strong African influence to it.