Guinea-Bissau: Struggles for Stability

map_guineabissauGuinea-Bissau is an ethnically diverse nation of 1.5 million people in West Africa. Since gaining independence in 1974 from Portugal, four military coup d’étates have taken place as the people of Guinea struggled with governance under a single party-system and a tumultuous democratization process.

In late 2003, data indicated that Guinea-Bissau was in “potential crisis,” with some signs of minor violence. There was a considerable lack of international support and attention to the warning signs that Guinea-Bissau was at risk of serious trouble.

Guinea-Bissau appeared to be a forgotten country.

Yet after an assessment trip, it was found that local people were receptive to a violence prevention project. BEFORE’s former implementing partner in Guinea-Bissau, the Canadian International Institute for Applied Negotiation (CIIAN), forged ahead and named the project “The International Peace and Prosperity Project” (IPPP) from 2005-2009, reflecting on the hope and needs of the people.

Stories of Our Work in Guinea-Bissau

The task however would be a difficult one. Guinea-Bissau is one of the world’s poorest countries. In the 1990’s multi-party politics proved difficult for the country, mainly due to a declining economy. Criticism of the government for economic mismanagement, corruption, rising-prices and deteriorating social conditions lead to popular discontent, political tension and socio-economic instability, marked by massive strikes in almost all sectors in the late 1990s. In the midst of weak political and administrative structures, the country struggles to find a stable environment for economic development. Drug-traffickers are attracted by the weaknesses of Guinea-Bissau’s state institutions and today nearly forty tons of cocaine every year go through Guinea-Bissau to Europe.

Early Successes

There was a great need for stability. Certain politicians were exploiting popular discontent and mobilizing inter-ethnic hostilities. Mass violence was a strong possibility. A number of Guinea-Bissauans asked for an immediate alert to the international community. Programs have been successful in stimulating and supporting local initiatives. Some of these key initiatives are:

  • Contributing to the reconciliation movement in Guinea-Bissau by facilitating reconciliation dialogues with political elites, supporting a women’s dialogue with the armed forces, and collaborating on the ECOWAS/CPLP/UNOGBIS-sponsored Reconciliation process
  • Supporting various Security Sector Reform activities including development of a Defense Strategy Paper and providing security consultants
  • Mobilizing Search for Common Ground to develop a media project directed at cultivating a culture of peace in Guinea-Bissau
  • To issue several alerts about potential violence-triggering crises, the IPPP sponsored representatives from Guinea-Bissau to international conferences twice and continues to undertake extensive international lobbying by liaising with different government representatives

To learn more about how BEFORE and its partners responded to local needs, read our Guinea-Bissau Program Evaluation or these stories about BEFORE’s work in Guinea-Bissau.

Donate now to support peace in Guinea-Bissau and receive our Guinea-Bissau news and updates.

History at-a-Glance

  • 1956 – Amilcar Cabral and Raphael Barbosa establishes the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC).
  • 1961-1973 – PAIGC initiates and continues an armed independence struggle against the Portuguese colonial government.
  • 1974 – After a bloodless military coup in Portugal deposes its dictatorship, Guinea-Bissau gains independence when the new Portuguese government withdraws from all its colonies.
  • November 1980 – Jao Bernando “Nino” Vieira leads a military coup against President Luis Cabral. Vieira becomes president and makes an attempt to lead the country towards market economy and multiparty system.
  • 1994 – Guinea-Bissau holds it first multi-party elections; President Vieira remains in power.
  • 1998 – General Ansumane Mané forms the popularity and militarily supported Military Junta for the Consolidation of Democracy, Peace and Justice (MJCDPJ) and begins an armed struggle with the aim to overthrow the Vieira government.
  • 1999 – The internal conflict rages for a year then ends with the ousting of President Vieira in May.
  • 2000 – Kumba Yala, of the Social Renewal Party (SRP), wins Presidency in a multi-party election.
  • 2003 – A bloodless military coup takes place and ousts Kumba Yala from power.
  • 2005 – Vieira returns from exile and wins the Presidential elections.
  • 2006 – Fighting breaks out between Guinea-Bissau soldiers and a Senegalese secessionist group, the Movement for Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), who had made bases in Northern Guinea-Bissau.
  • November 2008 – PAIGC wins a majority in Guinea-Bissau’s parliamentary elections in November, but two days after the results of parliamentary elections is released gunfire breaks out as a small group attacks President Vieira’s home in the early hours.
  • December 2008 – The country settles into a relative post-election peace. However, tensions among the country’s elites are reported to be growing.
  • March 2009 – Army Chief General Batista Tagme ni Waie is killed in an army barracks bombing. Several hours later newly elected President João Bernardo Vieira is assassinated at the Presidential Palace. Parliamentary speaker Raimundo Pereira was sworn into office as interim head of state the day after Vieira’s death. There has been no subsequent violence in the country. Elections for the new president are said to be held within 60 days, as outlined by the constitution.
  • June 2009 – Peaceful presidential elections, internationally declared orderly and free, are held but no candidate receives the majority of votes. Top two candidates João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira and Malam Bacai Sanhá prepare for a run-off.
  • July 2009 – Local leaders work to strongly encourage presidential candidates to peacefully accept the elections results – regardless of the winner. Malam Bacai Sanhá wins the run off and João Bernardo “Nino” Vieira promises to support the new government.
  • April 2010 – After months of calm and progress toward stability, former general Antonio Indjai and other soldiers briefly detain democratically-elected Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior and the Chief of Armed Forces General Jose Zamora Induta. After several hundred people pour into the streets of Bissau to protest the detentions, Prime Minister Gomes is soon set free and resumes his duties.
  • June 2010 – General Antonio Indjai is appointed as the new Army Chief of Staff.