BISSAU

BISSAU-OVERVIEW

Once hailed as a potential model for Third World development, Guinea-Bissau is now one of the poorest countries in the world. Health conditions and rates of infant mortality, life expectancy and literacy are poor even by West African standards. Added to this, the country experienced a bitter civil war in the late 1990s in which thousands were killed, wounded and displaced.

Guinea-Bissau won independence from Portugal in 1974 after a long struggle spearheaded by the left-wing African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), led by Luis Cabral. For the next six years Cabral presided over a command economy.

In 1980 he was overthrown by his army chief, Joao Vieira, who accused him of corruption and mismanagement. Vieira led the country towards a market economy and a multiparty system, but was accused of crony capitalism, corruption and autocracy. In 1994 he was chosen as president in Guinea-Bissau's first free elections.

Four years later he was ousted after he dismissed his army chief, thereby triggering a crippling civil war. This eventually ended after foreign mediation led to a truce, policed by West African peacekeepers, and free elections in January 2000.

Kumba Yalla won the elections and inherited a country with massive foreign debt and an economy which relies heavily on foreign aid.