Guinea–Bissau

The republic of guinea–bissau has experienced several decades of political unrest since obtaining independence from Portugal in 1974. From 1980–99, the brutal regime of Joao Bernardo “Nino” Vieira was marked by repeated attempted coups and massive political unrest. Removed from office in 1999, Vieira returned to power in 2005 through the electoral process. With a per capita income of only $800 and hampered by a devastated infrastructure, Guinea–Bissau is the 13th poorest country in the world. Over half the population lives in abject poverty. There is massive income disparity, with the poorest 10 percent of the population sharing only 0.5 percent of the wealth. At the other end of the spectrum, 42.4 percent of resources are held by the richest 10 percent. The United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Reports rank Guinea–Bissau 172 of 232 countries on overall quality of life issues.

Around 82 percent of the work force in engaged in subsistence agriculture. Rice is the major crop and is the staple of most Guinean diets. Guinea – Bissau is the sixth largest producer of cashews in the world. While 34 percent of the population lives in urban areas, industrial activities are limited to processing agricultural products and manufacturing beer and soft drinks. The largely unexploited natural resources include petroleum, fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, and limestone. Survival is largely dependent on budgetary support from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which provided over 80 percent of the 2004 budget.

Bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, Guinea–Bissau has a 350 kilometer coastline and 8,120 square kilometers of inland water resources. Guinea–Bissau shares land borders with only two countries, Guinea and Senegal. Except for the savanna in the eastern section of the country, the terrain is covered by a low coastal plain that turns to swamps in the west. Elevations range from sea level to 300 meters at an unnamed location near the northern border with Guinea. The tropical climate of Guinea–Bissau is hot and humid with a monsoonal-type rainy season from June to December that is marked by southwesterly winds. The dry season from December [Page 837]to May produces the harmattan, a dry and dusty northeasterly wind that reduces visibility and creates major environmental damage.