Guinea-Bissau after Live Aid

Guinea-Bissau was once heralded as a model of African development, however today it is one of the poorest countries in the world. Rebellion has been a constant feature in the country, with frequent regime change. The current government was itself formed following a coup in 2012.

One of the most significant challenges the country faces in its road to democratisation and stability is military intervention, along with the drug trade, which has reduced the authority of those who have been democratically elected. As a result, Guinea-Bissau has become a major centre for drugs – both cartels and trafficking exist here.

Underlying its problems is the civil war that raged throughout the 1990s, causing mass devastation at both the social and economic levels. SOS Children has worked in the country since 1994 and continues to expand its work there.

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Time Line

• 1974 Portugal grants Guinea-Bissau independence, Luis Cabral becomes president.

• 1980 Luis Cabral is deposed in a military coup led by Joao Bernardo Vieira.

• 1994 Vieira becomes president following Guinea-Bissau's first free election. SOS Children begins work in Guinea-Bissau with the opening of a Children’s Village, Nursery and Primary School in the capital, Bissau.

• 1999 Soldiers topple Vieira. The Military junta make Malam Bacai Sanha, the interim president.

• 2000 Kumba Yala elected president.

• 2001 SOS Children builds its second Children’s Village in the country – Gabu.

• 2002 SOS Children builds a Youth Home in Bissau for those children who are nearing independence. 

• 2003 SOS Children constructs an Social Centre, also in Bissau. SOS Children also becomes heavily involved in combating the HIV/ AIDS problem in Guinea-Bissau.

• 2003 (14 September) Military coup deposes President Yala.

• 2003 (28 September) Civilian administration, lead by interim President Henrique Rosa and interim Prime Minister Antonio Artur Rosa, is sworn in after the military and political parties agree to hold elections.

• 2004 Former ruling party, the PAIGC, wins the general election.

• 2005 Former ruler Vieira wins a presidential run-off vote.

• 2006 Appeals made by Guinea-Bissau for international support in preventing people-traffickers using its remote coastline to smuggle migrants to Europe.

  

  Children from the SOS Children's Village Canchungo, Guinea-Bissau

• 2007 SOS Children open a third community, the Canchungo Village, including a Nursery and Primary School. 

• 2008 (July) A major party quits the national unity coalition which sets off a major political crisis.

• 2008 (August) President Vieira dissolves parliament, the result is the fall of the government.

• 2009 (March) President Vieira is shot dead.

• 2009 (July) Malam Bacai Sanha, wins presidential election in a run-off. 22,000 people are living with HIV/ AIDS.
  

• 2010 US outs two top military officials as international drug traffickers.The maternal death rate is 790 deaths per 100,000 live births, 6th worst in the world. 36% of the population are still without access to an improved drinking water source.
  

• 2011 EU halts some of its aid to Guinea-Bissau, citing concerns over governance and the rule of law.

• 2012 (January) President Sanha dies in hospital. The National Assembly head Raimundo Pereira becomes interim president.

• 2012 (April-May) Soldiers topple the government. A transitional government is formed. Despite politicians and the military agreeing to hold new elections within a year, no actual steps are taken to enact this promise.The economy shrinks by around 1.5%, two main reasons are cited: lower production and world prices of cashew nuts and the effects of the coup. 

• 2013 The infant mortality rate stands at an incredibly high 92.66 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning that Guinea-Bissau ranks 5th worst in the world on this measure.