Guinea
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Guinea \Guin"ea\ (g[i^]n"[-e]), n.
1. A district on the west coast of Africa (formerly noted for
its export of gold and slaves) after which the Guinea
fowl, Guinea grass, Guinea peach, etc., are named.
[1913 Webster]
2. A gold coin of England current for twenty-one shillings
sterling, or about five dollars, but not coined since the
issue of sovereigns in 1817.
[1913 Webster]
The guinea, so called from the Guinea gold out of
which it
was first struck, was proclaimed in 1663, and to go
for twenty shillings; but it never went for less
than twenty-one shillings. --Pinkerton.
[1913 Webster]
{Guinea corn}. (Bot.) See {Durra}.
{Guinea Current} (Geog.), a current in the Atlantic Ocean
setting southwardly into the Bay of Benin on the coast of
Guinea.
{Guinea dropper} one who cheats by dropping counterfeit
guineas. [Obs.] --Gay.
{Guinea fowl}, {Guinea hen} (Zool.), an African gallinaceous
bird, of the genus {Numida}, allied to the pheasants. The
common domesticated species ({Numida meleagris}), has a
colored fleshy horn on each aide of the head, and is of a
dark gray color, variegated with small white spots. The
crested Guinea fowl ({Numida cristata}) is a finer
species.
{Guinea grains} (Bot.), grains of Paradise, or amomum. See
{Amomum}.
{Guinea grass} (Bot.), a tall strong forage grass ({Panicum
jumentorum}) introduced. from Africa into the West Indies
and Southern United States.
{Guinea-hen flower} (Bot.), a liliaceous flower ({Fritillaria
Meleagris}) with petals spotted like the feathers of the
Guinea hen.
{Guinea peach}. See under {Peach}.
{Guinea pepper} (Bot.), the pods of the {Xylopia aromatica},
a tree of the order {Anonace[ae]}, found in tropical West
Africa. They are also sold under the name of {Piper
aethiopicum}.
{Guinea plum} (Bot.), the fruit of {Parinarium excelsum}, a
large West African tree of the order {Chrysobalane[ae]},
having a scarcely edible fruit somewhat resembling a plum,
which is also called {gray plum} and {rough-skin plum}.
{Guinea worm} (Zool.), a long and slender African nematoid
worm ({Filaria Medinensis}) of a white color. It lives in
the cellular tissue of man, beneath the skin, and produces
painful sores.
[1913 Webster]
from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
53 Moby Thesaurus words for "guinea":
bawbee, coin, crown, dollar, double eagle, doubloon, ducat, eagle,
farthing, five-dollar gold piece, fiver, florin, fourpence,
fourpenny, gold piece, groat, half crown, half dollar, half eagle,
halfpenny, hard money, mag, meg, mite, moidore, monkey, napoleon,
new pence, np, p, pence, penny, piece, piece of money,
piece of silver, pony, pound, pound sovereign, quid, roll of coins,
rouleau, shilling, sixpence, sovereign, specie,
ten-dollar gold piece, tenner, threepence, threepenny bit,
thrippence, tuppence, twenty-dollar gold piece, twopence
from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Guinea
Introduction
Background: Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its
independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to
power in 1984 when the military seized the government
after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE.
Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993
when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was
elected president of the civilian government. He was
reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra
Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on
several occasions over the past decade, threatening
stability and creating humanitarian emergencies.
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic 11 00 N, 10 00 W
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 245,857 sq km
land: 245,857 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Oregon
comparative:
Land total: 3,399 km
boundaries: border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau
386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km,
Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season
(June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season
(December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous
interior
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower,
resources: fish, salt
Land use: arable land: 4.47%
permanent crops: 2.64%
other: 92.89% (2005)
Irrigated 950 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
hazards: during dry season
Environment - deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
current desertification; soil contamination and erosion;
issues: overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor
mining practices have led to environmental damage
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have
note: their sources in the Guinean highlands
People
Population: 9,690,222 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,171,733/female 2,128,027)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,541,140/female 2,542,847)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 134,239/female 172,236)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 17.7 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.9 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.63% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 41.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 15.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
rate: note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries,
Guinea is host to approximately 141,500 refugees from
Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (2006 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 90 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 95.16 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 84.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 49.5 years
expectancy at male: 48.34 years
birth: female: 50.7 years (2006 est.)
Total 5.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 3.2% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 140,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 9,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diseases: diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high
risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
(2005)
Nationality: noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic
groups 10%
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages: French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own
language
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 31 N, 13 43 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*;
divisions: Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba,
Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual,
Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou,
Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola,
Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita,
Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
holiday:
Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and
decree; legal codes currently being revised; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of
branch: military government since 5 April 1984, elected
president 19 December 1993)
head of government: vacant; note - Prime Minister
Cellou Dalein DIALLO was dismissed on 5 April 2006
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must
receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected
president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to
be held December 2010); the prime minister is appointed
by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president;
percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 95.3%, Mamadou
Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6%
Legislative unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee
branch: Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%,
UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR
20, other 9
Judicial Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
branch:
Political Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or
parties and PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN];
leaders: National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye
BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana
CONTE] (the governing party); People's Party of Guinea
or PPG [Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or
RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea
or UFDG [Mamadou BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR
[Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG
[Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for
Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]
Political Student and teacher unions
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
organization ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
participation: IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Alpha Oumar Rafiou BARRY
representation chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson C. MCDONALD
representation embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
from the US: mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre
Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone: [224] 30-42-08-61
FAX: [224] 30-42-08-73
Flag three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow,
description: and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy
Economy - Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and
overview: agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped
nation. The country possesses almost half of the
world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest
bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for over
70% of exports in 2004. Long-run improvements in
government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal
framework are needed if the country is to move out of
poverty. Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian
borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused
major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in
investor confidence. Panic buying has created food
shortages and inflation and caused riots in local
markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid; the
IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003.
Growth rose slightly in 2005, primarily due to
increases in global demand and commodity prices on
world markets.
GDP $18.65 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $3.576 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 2% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $2,000 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 23.7%
composition by industry: 36.2%
sector: services: 40.1% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 3 million (1999)
Labor force - agriculture: 80%
by occupation: industry and services: 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population 40% (2003 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 2.6%
income or highest 10%: 32% (1994)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 40.3 (1994)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 25% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 17.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $305.6 million
expenditures: $590.4 million; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Agriculture - rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava
products: (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep,
goats; timber
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light
manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Industrial NA
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 775 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 45.5%
production by hydro: 54.5%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 720.8 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 8,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-268.4 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $612.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish,
commodities: agricultural products
Exports - Russia 14.6%, South Korea 11.3%, Spain 10.2%, Ukraine
partners: 7.9%, US 6.1%, Ireland 6%, France 5.7%, Germany 5%,
Belgium 4.5% (2005)
Imports: $680 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport
commodities: equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - China 8.5%, US 7.3%, France 7.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%,
partners: Italy 4.7%, Belgium 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of $69.83 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $3.46 billion (2003 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $237.5 million (2003)
recipient:
Currency Guinean franc (GNF)
(code):
Currency code: GNF
Exchange Guinean francs per US dollar - 2,550 (2005), 2,225
rates: (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002), 1,950.6 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 26,200 (2003)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 189,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: poor to fair system of open-wire
system: lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and
new microwave radio relay system
domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone
communication
international: country code - 224; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7
broadcast repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001)
stations:
Radios: 357,000 (1997)
Television 6 low-power stations (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 85,000 (1997)
Internet .gn
country code:
Internet 367 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 4 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 46,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 16 (2006)
Airports - total: 5
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 11
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 837 km
standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 44,348 km
paved: 4,342 km
unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
Waterways: 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)
(2005)
Ports and Kamsar
terminals:
Military
Military Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2006)
branches:
Military 18 years of age for compulsory military service;
service age conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 1,852,534
available for females age 18-49: 1,827,560 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 1,034,006
for military females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)
service:
Military $119.7 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 2.9% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs
international: in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea,
resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone has
pressured Guinea to remove its forces from the town of
Yenga, occupied since 1998
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 127,256 (Liberia) 7,165
internally (Sierra Leone) 7,064 (Cote d'Ivoire)
displaced IDPs: 82,000 (cross-border incursions from Liberia,
persons: Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire) (2005)
from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Guinea
Introduction-Bissau
Background: Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau
has experienced considerable political and military
upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established
authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as
president. Despite setting a path to a market economy
and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was
characterized by the suppression of political
opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several
coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed
to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in
the country's first free elections. A military mutiny
and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to
VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a
transitional government turned over power to opposition
leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected president in
transparent polling. In September 2003, after only
three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military
in a bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was
sworn in as interim president. In August 2005, former
President VIEIRA was re-elected president in the second
round of presidential polling. Since formally assuming
office in October 2005, Vieira has pledged to pursue
economic development and national reconciliation.
Geography-Bissau
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic 12 00 N, 15 00 W
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 36,120 sq km
land: 28,000 sq km
water: 8,120 sq km
Area - slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
comparative:
Land total: 724 km
boundaries: border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy
season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry
season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan
winds
Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner
of the country 300 m
Natural fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite,
resources: limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use: arable land: 8.31%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 84.77% (2005)
Irrigated 250 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
hazards: during dry season; brush fires
Environment - deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
current
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
agreements: Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - this small country is swampy along its western coast
note: and low-lying further inland
People-Bissau
Population: 1,442,029 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.4% (male 297,623/female 298,942)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 384,559/female 417,811)
65 years and over: 3% (male 18,048/female 25,046) (2006
est.)
Median age: total: 19 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.6 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.07% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 37.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 16.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 105.21 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 115.53 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 94.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 46.87 years
expectancy at male: 45.05 years
birth: female: 48.75 years (2006 est.)
Total 4.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 10% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 17,000 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 1,200 (2001 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diseases: diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high
risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality: noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca
14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less
than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
Government-Bissau
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo,
divisions: Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali;
note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence: 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by
Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by
Portugal)
National Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
holiday:
Constitution: 16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26
February 1993, 9 June 1993, NA 1996
Legal system: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA
branch: (since 1 October 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Aristides GOMES
(since 2 November 2005)
cabinet: NA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24
July 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister
appointed by the president after consultation with
party leaders in the legislature
election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected
president; percent of vote, second ballot - Joao
Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malan Bacai SANHA 47.6%
Legislative unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia
branch: Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve a maximum of four years)
elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held in
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC
31.5%, PRS 24.8%, PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13
other parties 22.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35,
PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1
Judicial Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists
branch: of nine justices appointed by the president and serve
at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and
civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine
regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court
decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued
at over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not
necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases
under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)
Political African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and
parties and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Democratic
leaders: Social Front or FDS; Electoral Union or UE; Party for
Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Social
Renovation Party or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA]; Union for
Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD,
secretary general]; United Platform or UP (coalition
formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB); United Popular
Alliance or APU; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD
[Francisco Jose FADUL]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
organization ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
participation: IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW
(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
representation d'Affaires Henrique Adriano DA SILVA
in the US: mailing address: 1511 K St. NW, #519, Washington, DC
20005
telephone: [1] (202) 947-3958
FAX: [1] (202) 947-3958
Diplomatic the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in
representation the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to
from the US: then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US
Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau
Flag two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green
description: with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a
black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses
the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy-Bissau
Economy - One of the 10 poorest countries in the world,
overview: Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing.
Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years,
and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production.
Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small
amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is
the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent
fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops
and a military junta destroyed much of the country's
infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the
economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP
that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before
the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the
most successful part of the country's structural
adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The
tightening of monetary policy and the development of
the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the
economy. Because of high costs, the development of
petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is
not a near-term prospect. However, offshore oil
prospecting has begun and could lead to much-needed
revenue in the long run. The inequality of income
distribution is one of the most extreme in the world.
The government and international donors continue to
work out plans to forward economic development from a
lamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank,
IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide
emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107
million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total
national budget. Government drift and indecision,
however, have resulted in continued low growth in
2002-05.
GDP $1.171 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $280 million (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 2.3% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $800 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 62%
composition by industry: 12%
sector: services: 26% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 480,000 (1999)
Labor force - agriculture: 82%
by occupation: industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 0.5%
income or highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 4% (2002 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts,
products: peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial 4.7% (2003 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 56 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 52.08 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 2,450 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Exports: $116 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
commodities:
Exports - India 72%, Nigeria 17.1%, Ecuador 4% (2005)
partners:
Imports: $176 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment,
commodities: petroleum products
Imports - Italy 25.3%, Senegal 18.6%, Portugal 15.8%, Cote
partners: d'Ivoire 4.3% (2005)
Debt - $941.5 million (2000 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $115.4 million (1995)
recipient:
Currency Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note -
(code): responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West
African States
Currency code: XOF; GWP
Exchange Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US
rates: dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003),
696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been
pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per
euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications-Bissau
Telephones - 10,600 (2003)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 67,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: small system
system: domestic: combination of microwave radio relay,
open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular
communications
international: country code - 245
Radio AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0
broadcast (2002)
stations:
Radios: 49,000 (1997)
Television NA (2005)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: NA
Internet .gw
country code:
Internet 5 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2002)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 26,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation-Bissau
Airports: 28 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 25
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Roadways: total: 4,400 km
paved: 453 km
unpaved: 3,947 km (1999)
Waterways: four largest rivers are navigable for some distance;
many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to
much of interior (2006)
Ports and Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
terminals:
Military-Bissau
Military People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes
branches: Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Military 18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 287,542
available for females age 18-49: 297,295 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 152,681
for military females age 18-49: 161,033 (2005 est.)
service:
Military $9.46 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 3.1% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational-Bissau
Issues
Disputes - attempts to stem refugees and cross-border raids, arms
international: smuggling, and political instability from a separatist
movement in Senegal's Casamance region
[email protected]