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Description Guinea-Bissau by rbd.me
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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 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president 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.
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Location
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
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Area - comparative
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slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
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Natural resources Guinea-Bissau
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fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
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Population Guinea-Bissau
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1,565,126 (July 2010 est.)
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Religions Guinea-Bissau
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Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
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Languages
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Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
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Education Guinea-Bissau expenditures
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5.2% of GDP (1999)
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Government Guinea-Bissau type
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republic
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Independence
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24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
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Guinea-Bissau Economy - overview
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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
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Investment Guinea-Bissau
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3.8% (2007 est.)
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Industries Guinea-Bissau
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4.7% (2003 est.)
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Airports Guinea-Bissau
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Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
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