Post Conflict Development Countries |
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Guinea-Bissau |
Guinea-Bissau gained independence from Portugal in 1974, after the struggle launched
by the left-wing PAIGC in 1956.
A military coup established a dictator as a president in 1980. Although the president
introduced a market economy and a multi-party system, he was accused of “crony capitalism”
and corruption. There were several attempted coups through the 1980s and 1990s.
The first multi-party elections took place in 1994. The president was ousted after
he dismissed the army chief in 1998. This led to a civil war that ended thanks to
a foreign-mediated truce enforced by West African peacekeepers in February 2000.
The transitional government turned over power to a new president elected in a transparent
polling.
In September 2003, the president was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup,
and an interim president was appointed.
After being delayed several times, parliamentary elections were held in March 2004.
The following mutiny within military ranks in October 2004 and the assassination
of the army chief caused widespread unrest.
In August 2005, the former president who was deposed in the 1998 coup was re-elected
in the second round of presidential polling.
Currently, Guinea-Bissau is in a search for sustainable economic development and
national reconciliation. |
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