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Africa :: Guinea-Bissau

- ## Introduction :: GUINEA-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 election. 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 overthrown in a bloodless military coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup in April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau's second-round presidential election - to determine SANHA's successor - from taking place. Following mediation by the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power in 2012 and remained until Jose Mario VAZ won free and fair elections in 2014.

- ## Geography :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
  Geographic coordinates:
  12 00 N, 15 00 W
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 36,125 sq km
  land: 28,120 sq km
  water: 8,005 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Area - comparative:
  slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
  Land boundaries:
  total: 762 km
  border countries (2): Guinea 421 km, Senegal 341 km
  Coastline:
  350 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  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-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m
  Natural resources:
  fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 44.8%
  arable land 8.2%; permanent crops 6.9%; permanent pasture 29.7%
  forest: 55.2%
  other: 0% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  225.6 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  31 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.18 cu km/yr (18%/6%/76%)
  per capita: 135.7 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
  Environment - current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland

- ## People and Society :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Nationality:
  noun: Bissau-Guinean(s)
  adjective: Bissau-Guinean
  Ethnic groups:
  Fulani 28.5%, Balanta 22.5%, Mandinga 14.7%, Papel 9.1%, Manjaco 8.3%, Beafada 3.5%, Mancanha 3.1%, Bijago 2.1%, Felupe 1.7%, Mansoanca 1.4%, Balanta Mane 1%, other 1.8%, none 2.2% (2008 est.)
  Languages:
  Crioulo 90.4%, Portuguese 27.1% (official), French 5.1%, English 2.9%, other 2.4%
  note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2008 est.)
  Religions:
  Muslim 45.1%, Christian 22.1%, animist 14.9%, none 2%, unspecified 15.9% (2008 est.)
  Population:
  1,726,170 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 39.53% (male 340,575/female 341,747)
  15-24 years: 20.18% (male 172,787/female 175,511)
  25-54 years: 32.3% (male 277,820/female 279,762)
  55-64 years: 4.66% (male 30,010/female 50,354)
  65 years and over: 3.34% (male 21,671/female 35,933) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 78.4%
  youth dependency ratio: 72.8%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.7%
  potential support ratio: 17.7% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 19.9 years
  male: 19.4 years
  female: 20.4 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.91% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Birth rate:
  33.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Death rate:
  14.33 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 49.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 4.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  BISSAU (capital) 492,000 (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.6 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  549 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 89.21 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 98.8 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 79.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 50.23 years
  male: 48.21 years
  female: 52.31 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 223
  Total fertility rate:
  4.23 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 32
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  14.2% (2010)
  Health expenditures:
  5.5% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Physicians density:
  0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  1 beds/1,000 population (2009)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.8% of population
  rural: 60.3% of population
  total: 79.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.2% of population
  rural: 39.7% of population
  total: 20.7% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 33.5% of population
  rural: 8.5% of population
  total: 20.8% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 66.5% of population
  rural: 91.5% of population
  total: 79.2% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  3.69% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  42,000 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  1,900 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
  water contact disease: schistosomiasis
  animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  6.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  18.1% (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 59.9%
  male: 71.8%
  female: 48.3% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 9 years
  male: NA
  female: NA (2006)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 226,316
  percentage: 57% (2010 est.)

- ## Government :: GUINEA-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
  note: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; "Bissau" distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea
  Government type:
  republic
  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 divisions:
  9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
  Independence:
  24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
  Constitution:
  promulgated 16 May 1984; amended 1991, 1993, 1996; note - constitution suspended following military coup in April 2012 and restored in 2014 (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of civil law which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by early French civil code and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: yes
  citizenship by descent: yes
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Jose Mario VAZ (since 17 June 2014)
  head of government: Prime Minister Carlos CORREIA (since 17 September 2015); the initial appointment of Baciro DJA in August was nullified by the Supreme Court and he resigned
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 13 April 2014 with a runoff on 18 May 2014 (next to be held in 2019); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
  election results: first round - Jose Mario VAZ (PAIGC) 41%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (independent) 25.1%, other 33.9%; Jose Mario VAZ elected president in second round - Jose Mario VAZ 61.9%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM 38.1%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 13 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
  election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 48.0%, PRS 30.8%, other parties 21.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 57, PRS 41, other 4
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court or Suprema Tribunal Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction
  judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president with life tenure
  subordinate courts: Appeal Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
  Political parties and leaders:
  African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde or PAIGC [Domingos Simoes PEREIRA]
  Democratic Convergence Party or PCD [Vicente FERNANDES]
  New Democracy Party or PND [Mamadu Iaia DJALO]
  Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Filomeno Mendes PEREIRA]
  Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]
  Union for Change or UM [Agnelo REGALA]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Chamber of Commerce of Agriculture, Industry, and Services [Braima CAMARA]
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU (suspended), CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal, currently Ambassador James P. ZUMWALT, is accredited to Guinea-Bissau
  Flag description:
  two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity
  note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag
  National symbol(s):
  black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black
  National anthem:
  name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country)
  lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
  note: adopted 1974; a delegation from then Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRA, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence

- ## Economy :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Economy - overview:
  Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. The legal economy is based on farming and fishing, but illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics are also important economic activities. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe while trade in illegal logging, food, and fishing is also significant. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities. With renewed donor support following elections in April-May 2014 and a successful regional bond issuance, the new government of Guinea-Bissau has made progress paying salaries, settling domestic arrears, and gaining more control over revenues and expenditures. The IMF noted that the new government has taken the positive step of developing a long-term economic plan, while implementing sensitive economic reforms in the wake of the 2012 coup.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.532 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.469 billion (2013 est.)
  $2.449 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 189
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $1.111 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  2.5% (2014 est.)
  0.8% (2013 est.)
  -1.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $1,500 (2014 est.)
  $1,400 (2013 est.)
  $1,400 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Gross national saving:
  9.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  2.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  -2.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 92.3%
  government consumption: 12.1%
  investment in fixed capital: 5.4%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 15.5%
  imports of goods and services: -25.2%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 43.9%
  industry: 13.6%
  services: 42.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
  Industries:
  agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
  Industrial production growth rate:
  1.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Labor force:
  632,700 (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 82%
  industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  NA%
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.9%
  highest 10%: 28% (2002)
  Budget:
  revenues: $175.6 million
  expenditures: $213.4 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  15.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -1% (2014 est.)
  0.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2009)
  4.75% (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  15% (31 December 2014 est.)
  15% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Stock of narrow money:
  $392.5 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $330 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Stock of broad money:
  $480.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $393 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $160.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $185.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  Current account balance:
  -$13 million (2014 est.)
  -$45 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Exports:
  $171.9 million (2014 est.)
  $152.8 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Exports - commodities:
  fish, shrimp; cashews, peanuts, palm kernels, raw and sawn lumber
  Exports - partners:
  India 52.3%, Nigeria 20.7%, China 16.3%, Togo 5.5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $227.5 million (2014 est.)
  $182.8 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
  Imports - partners:
  Portugal 20.6%, Senegal 17.5%, UK 16.1%, Spain 4.2%, India 4.2%, China 4.1% (2014)
  Debt - external:
  $1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  $941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
  494.42 (2014 est.)
  494.42 (2013 est.)
  510.53 (2012 est.)
  471.87 (2011 est.)
  495.28 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Electricity - production:
  50 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Electricity - consumption:
  46.5 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  26,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  2,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  2,661 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 185
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  460,100 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183

- ## Communications :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 5,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 1.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications
  domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 245 (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  1 state-owned TV station and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2007)
  Internet country code:
  .gw
  Internet users:
  total: 56,100
  percent of population: 3.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181

- ## Transportation :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Airports:
  8 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 6
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m:
  3 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 3,455 km
  paved: 965 km
  unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Waterways:
  (rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

- ## Military :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Military branches:
  People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 370,790
  females age 16-49: 372,171 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 205,460
  females age 16-49: 212,277 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 17,639
  female: 17,865 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.85% of GDP (2012)
  1.81% of GDP (2011)
  1.85% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 45

- ## Transnational Issues :: GUINEA-BISSAU

- Disputes - international:
  in 2006, political instability within Senegal's Casamance region resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees, cross-border raids, and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 8,601 (Senegal) (2014)
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys are forced into street vending in Guinea-Bissau and manual labor, agriculture, and mining in Senegal, while girls may be forced into street vending, domestic service, and, to a lesser extent, prostitution in Senegal and Guinea
  tier rating: Tier 3 - Guinea-Bissau does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking efforts have stalled under the transitional government; despite enacting an anti-trafficking law and adopting a national action plan in 2011, authorities still have not taken action against trafficking offenders, provided protection to identified victims, or conducted any prevention activities; no progress has been made in implementing the national action plan (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations due to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography near the capital facilitates drug smuggling

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