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Guinea Bissau NEWS MEDIA
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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 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.
Borders: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Population: 1,586,344
GDP per capita: $189.81 per capita
Capital with population: Bissau - 200,000
Largest city with population: Bissau - 200,000
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