Guinea-Bissau Country & Tourist Information

Location
West Africa.

Area
36,125 sq km (13,948 sq miles).

Population
1.6 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
44.3 per sq km.

Capital
Bissau.
Population: 197,610 (1991).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1973.

Language
Official language is Portuguese. The majority of the population speak Guinean Creole. Balante and Fulani languages are also spoken.

Religion
Mainly animist and Muslim. There is a small minority of Roman Catholics and other Christians.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
Limited electricity supply on 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Aristides Gomes since 2005.

Head of State
Joao Bernardo Vieira since 2005.

Recent History
In September 1974, Portugal formally recognized the independence of Guinea-Bissau. The leader of the Partido Africano da Independencia da Guine e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) was Joao Vieira, formerly chief of the armed forces, who went on to run the country for the next 25 years. Guinea-Bissau functioned as a typical one-party state until the beginning of the 1990s when the government began a process of political reform which led to multi-party elections being held in 1994. The PAIGC secured a clear majority in the National People’s Assembly while Vieira secured the presidency at the run-off stage.
The Vieira government was unable to tackle the country’s poor and worsening economic situation. It also became embroiled in a series of disputes with Senegal over territorial waters and alleged support for secessionist rebels in the Senegalese region of Casamance. Although these were settled by external mediation, bilateral relations are still brittle. The Casamance guerrillas’ main supporter in Guinea-Bissau was Brigadier Ansumane Mane, a politically ambitious officer who in 1998 staged a rebellion against his own government. Vieira survived the attempted coup on this occasion but in May the following year, Mane managed to take power. Elections were held six months later, and the PAIGC lost control of both the presidency and the national assembly at the hands of the Partido para a Renovacao Social (PRS). PRS leader Kumba Yala, who took over as President, was quite incapable of tackling the country’s enormous problems: he too was overthrown by the military at what was at least the third attempt in September 2003. Henrique Pereira Rosa became President and then later Carlos Gomes Junior became Prime Minister in May 2004.

The situation has remained volatile throughout 2005. In April, Joao Bernardo Vieira, the former military ruler toppled in the 1999 rebellion, returned from exile in Portugal. In May, the former President Kumba Yala, who was deposed in 2003, declared that he was still the rightful Head of State and staged a brief occupation of the presidency building.
On 10 August 2005 Joao Bernardo Vieria was declared the winner of a July presidential runoff election over Malam Bacai Sanha in an election judged by international observers to be free and fair. Vieria dismissed the government of Carlos Gomes Junior in November 2005, appointing Aristides Gomes in his place.

Telephone
Country code: 245. Outgoing international calls must go through the operator. It is difficult to find public telephones or to receive international calls. Telephone services are also expensive.

Mobile Telephone
Some networks operate. No roaming agreements have been announced yet.

Internet
Very limited Internet access is available in Bissau.

Media
Since the overthrow of Kumba Yala in 2003, the media scene has been less repressive. The lack of a reliable power supply is still a problem. Private radio stations operate alongside the state-run broadcaster. There are few private newspapers, essentially due to financial constraints rather than to Government interference.


Post
There is a limited postal service.

Press
• There are no English-language papers.
• Journal Nô Pintcha is a state-run newspaper published daily.
• Banobero, Correio-Bissau and Fraskera are private weekly publications.

Radio
• Radio Nacional is a state-run station.
• Radio Pindjiguiti, Bombolom FM and Voice of Quelele are private stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
8 Mar International Women's Day.
1 May Labor Day.
3 Aug Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguoiti.
21 Sep Korité (end of Ramadan).
24 Sep National Day. 
14 Nov Anniversary of the Movement of Readjustment.
28 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
8 Mar International Women's Day.
1 May Labor Day.
3 Aug Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguoiti.
11 Sep Korité (end of Ramadan).
24 Sep National Day.
14 Nov Anniversary of the Movement of Readjustment.
17 Nov Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Korité, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Korité itself. Korité and Tabaski may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Centro de Informação e Turismo
CP 294, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Tel: 213 905 or 212 844 (government office).

Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in Luxembourg
18 rue Neuve, 6137 Junglinster, Luxembourg
Tel: 021 218 392.
Website: www.republica-da-guine-bissau.org


Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in France
94 rue St Lazare, 75009 Paris, France
Tel: (01) 4674 3639.

Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in the USA
15929 Yukon Lane, Rockville, MD 20855, USA
Tel/Fax: (301) 947 3958.


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