Guineabissau Overview Country Overview Guinea-Bissau is located in West Africa and is bounded by Senegal and the Republic of Guinea. It encompasses the adjacent Bijagós Islands and the island of Bolama. The country rises from a coastal plain broken up by numerous inlets through a transitional plateau to mountains on the border with Guinea. Thick forest and mangrove swamp cover the area nearest the Atlantic Ocean and savannah covers the inland areas. The capital, Bissau, is a relaxed and pleasant town of about 100,000 inhabitants. The Museum of African Artefacts is a treasure trove of traditional sculpture, pottery, weaving and basketware. Bolama, the original capital of Guinea-Bissau, is now an attractive ruin, and the island is worth seeing with good beaches. There is no accommodation, but camping is an option. Local specialities include jollof rice, chicken and fish dishes. General Information Area: 36,125 sq km (13,948 sq miles). Population: 1,285,715 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 35.6 per sq km. Capital: Bissau. Population: 197,610 (1991). GEOGRAPHY: Guinea-Bissau (formerly Portuguese Guinea) is located in West Africa, and is bounded to the north by Senegal and to the south and east by the Republic of Guinea. It encompasses the adjacent Bijagós Islands and the island of Bolama. The country rises from a coastal plain broken up by numerous inlets through a transitional plateau to mountains on the border with Guinea. Thick forest and mangrove swamp cover the area nearest to the Atlantic Ocean. Savannah covers the inland areas. Government: Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1973. Head of State: President Kumba Yala since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Mario Pires since 2002. 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. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. 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. Press There are no English-language papers. Nô Pintcha is published daily and Banobero and Correio-Bissau weekly. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.83 15.40 11.77 7.160 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes Yes Yes OtherEU Yes Yes Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for 12 months required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of ECOWAS member countries for a maximum stay of one month (exceptions are possible, check with nearest Consulate); (b) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business (single-entry) €50; (multiple-entry) only available on request). Transit: (only available on request). Validity: Single-entry visas are normally valid for up to 45 days; multiple-entry visas are valid for up to 90 days within a period of six months. Tranist visas are valid for up to five days. Extensions are then granted at the discretion of the Immigration Authorities. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Two completed application forms. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Passport valid for at least 12 months. (d) Return ticket. (e) Fee. (f) For business visas, confirmation of a job placement is required. Working days required: Five. Urgent visas can be handled within 24-48 hours. Money Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Guinea-Bissau is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro. Currency exchange: US currency in small denominations is the most useful for exchange. Inter-bank fund transfers are frequently difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. Credit & debit cards: Limited use. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: These are rarely accepted. They can sometimes be cashed at banks. There is a fixed rate of commission on all transactions. Currency restrictions: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival; export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 1035.90 1025.70 1038.27 966.15 $1.00= 710.84 674.41 656.55 606.78 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1430. Duty Free The following goods can be imported into Guinea-Bissau without incurring customs duty: A reasonable quantity of tobacco products; 2.5l of alcoholic beverages (non-Muslims only); and perfume in opened bottles. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 20 Death of Amílcar Cabral. Feb 12 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 8 International Women’s Day. May 1 Labour Day. Aug 3 Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguoiti. Sep 24 National Day. Nov 14 Anniversary of the Movement of Readjustment. Nov 26-28 Korité (end of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 20 Death of Amílcar Cabral. Feb 2 Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 8 International Women’s Day. May 1 Labour Day. Aug 3 Anniversary of the Killing of Pidjiguoiti. Sep 24 National Day. Nov 14 Anniversary of the Movement of Readjustment. Nov 14-16 Korité (end of Ramadan). Dec 25 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 ten days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever Yes 1 Cholera Yes 2 Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas (contact the nearest embassy for latest details). Travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that a vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Guinea-Bissau. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information. 3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often advised. 4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Only eat well cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases, including giardiasis, and typhoid fevers are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are present. Hepatitis A and E are widespread. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Epidemics of meningococcal disease may occur, particularly in the savannah areas and during the dry season. Immunisation against diphtheria is sometimes recommended. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Medical facilities are extremely limited and medicines often unavailable. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Health insurance is essential. Most doctors work in the public service and have their private clinic in the afternoon and evening. There are few specialists. Several foreign aid agencies have their own doctor and medical facilities, including the French Mission and the Swedish Embassy. There is also a UN clinic. All these clinics will receive visitors in an emergency, but none of them have surgical facilities. Travel - International AIR: Guinea-Bissau’s national airline is Guiné Bissau Airlines (G6). Other airlines that fly direct to Bissau include TAP Air Portugal and Aeroflot. Approximate flight times: From Bissau to London is ten hours 20 minutes (including stopover of one hour 30 minutes, usually in Lisbon). There are daily flights to Lisbon. International airports: Bissau (OXB) (Bissalanca), 11km (7 miles) from the city. Taxi service is available to the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Departure tax: None. SEA/RIVER: Ferries running between coastal and inland ports form an important part of the transport system, especially as roads are often impassable (see Sea/River in Travel – Internal section). The main port is Bissau. This and four inland ports are currently being expanded and upgraded. A new commercial river port is being constructed at N’Pungda. ROAD: Travellers should check that overland entry is allowed and travelling is safe before embarking (the usual route of entry is by plane from Conakry in Guinea Republic); entry from Senegal is not recommended. Travel - Internal AIR: There are ten small internal airports. The national airline provides internal flights, including the outlying islands. SEA/RIVER: Most towns are accessible by ship. Riverboats can reach almost all areas; there are ferries from Bissau to Bolama (often irregular owing to tides) and Bissau to Bafatá, calling at smaller towns en route. Coast-hopping ferries go from the north coast to Bissau. ROAD: There are about 4150km (2578 miles) of roads, one-fifth tarred and a similar proportion improved for all-weather use. Improvements are planned. There are local and long-distance taxis and buses (the latter offer limited services). Traffic drives on the right. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required. A temporary driving licence is available from local authorities on presentation of a valid UK driving licence. Accommodation HOTELS: A range of hotels is on offer, some of international standard and others that are small and inexpensive. Accommodation should be booked in advance. Tariffs are liable to change at any time, therefore confirmation of booking is essential. CAMPING: There are no designated campsites and camping is not recommended. Introduction Until recently, Guinea-Bissau was well off the tourist route, but efforts have been made to encourage visitors to this beautiful and largely unspoilt country. Bissau: The capital is a relaxed and pleasant town of approximately 200,000 inhabitants. The Museum of African Artefacts is a treasure trove of traditional sculpture, pottery, weaving and basketware. Nearby, the covered central market features colourful stalls and a lively ambience. Bijagós Archipelago: This archipelago comprises a group of small islands, several of which are uninhabited, and most of which are very rarely visited by foreigners. The easiest ones to reach are Bolama and Bubaque. Bolama, the original capital of Guinea-Bissau, is now a rather attractive ruin, and the island is worth seeing, with good beaches. There is no accommodation, but camping is an option. The unspoilt island of Bubaque is easily accessible from Bissau and offers accommodation in the town. Social Profile Food & Drink: Guinea-Bissau’s few hotels and restaurants offer excellent food, though some places are expensive. Local specialities include jollof rice, chicken and fish dishes. Staples are cassava, yams and maize. Shopping: Locally made artefacts and carvings can be found in the markets. There are also some modern shops in Bissau. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1230 and 1430-1830. Social Conventions: Casual wear is widely accepted. Social customs should be respected, particularly in Muslim areas. Petty thievery and pickpocketing are increasingly common, particularly at the airport, in markets and at public gatherings. Photography: Visitors should request permission from security personnel before photographing military or police installations. Tipping: Ten per cent is an acceptable amount, although not encouraged. Business Profile Economy: Rice is the staple food in this poor, largely subsistence economy. The main cash crops are groundnuts, cashew nuts and palm kernels. Timber is the only significant industry. An attempt to revive cotton production has received EU assistance; sugar refining and fishing have also undergone major development. Planned developments of oil and bauxite deposits have not progressed as far as had been hoped. Guinea-Bissau is a member of the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS) and joined the CFA Franc Zone in May 1997. Since then, the country has been recovering from internal conflicts which cut economic output by up to one-third and damaged much of the country’s already limited infrastructure. In the short term, Guinea-Bissau will continue to rely on large quantities of foreign aid, of which it is among the highest per capita recipients in the world. France, Portugal, Italy and Thailand are Guinea-Bissau’s largest trading partners. Business: Businessmen wear safari suits (bush jackets without a tie). A knowledge of Portuguese is useful as only a few executives speak English. Visits during Ramadan should be avoided. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1400. Commercial Information: For further information contact the Embassy (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Climate The climate is tropical, with a wet season from June to October. The dry season is from December to April, with hot winds from the interior. Humidity is high from July to September. Temperatures vary with altitude and distance from the coast. Required clothing: Tropical lightweight cotton clothes and raincoat for the rainy season. History and Government History: Guinea-Bissau emerged from the Portuguese-occupied stretch of West Africa after the agreement of 1886 which fixed colonial boundaries in the region. The Portuguese had been present in the region since the mid-15th century and had established a substantial slave trade there. Guinea-Bissau was administered jointly with the Cape Verde islands until 1879, after which it was treated as a separate entity known as Portuguese Guinea until independence. Like other Portuguese colonies, Guinea-Bissau suffered a protracted war of independence between 1963 and 1974, led on the rebel side by Amilcar Cabral, a highly respected figure inside the country. The independence of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau was proclaimed in 1973, with Cabral as President of the State Council. In 1974 a military coup in Portugal, itself partly the result of heavy losses sustained by the army in Guinea-Bissau, brought about a sudden withdrawal of the colonial authorities. In September that year, Portugal formally recognised 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 late 1990s saw Guinea-Bissau consumed by economic decline and a seriously deteriorating security situation. The latter began with prolonged dispute with neighbouring Senegal. This started in 1989 with a dispute over maritime borders, which was settled by a bilateral agreement signed in October 1993. But relations once again broke down in February 1995, after the Senegalese air force bombed the village of Ponta Rosa in Guinea-Bissau. Again, diplomatic mediation quelled the dispute. The peace was short-lived: in June 1998, full-scale civil war broke out in Guinea-Bissau. The Vieira government faced a rebellion led by Brigadier Ansumane Mane, an army chief who had been sacked on suspicion of smuggling arms to rebels battling for autonomy in Senegal’s southern province of Casamance. Senegal and Guinea both sent troops to Vieira’s aid, and attempts to broker peace were led by France, Libya and the Gambia. Vieira, however, declared himself uninterested in talks, and determined to drive the rebels out. The two sides reached a temporary truce, brokered by the Nigerians, in November 1998, but fighting again broke out in May 1999. This time, the rebels, under General Ansumane Mane, proved strong enough to oust Vieira, who sought asylum in Portugal. The new military administration promised an early return to civilian government. This took place with the holding of elections in January 2000, at which the Partido para a Renovacao Social (PRS) defeated the old PAIGC and another new party, the Resistencia da Guine-Bissau (RGB), for the presidency, and also became the largest single party (though without an overall majority) in the National Assembly. Kumba Iala, the PRS leader who now holds the presidency, was almost immediately confronted by yet another attempted military coup (the first of several). During 2001 and 2002, several government ministers and senior members of the judiciary were dismissed and a further coup plot was uncovered. President Iala is an increasingly isolated figure as his country teeters on the point of descending into chaos. Government: Under the terms of the revised 1984 Constitution, legislative power is vested in the National People’s Assembly, which comprises 102 members, popularly elected for a term of four years. Executive power is vested in the President of the Republic, who is head of state and who governs with the assistance of an appointed Council of Ministers, led by the Prime Minister. The President is directly elected for a term of five years. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.