A short history of the country   The first contact the Portuguese had with people living then in the littoral of the present Guinea-Bissau, took place in 1446. This area was inhabitated exclusively by the animist groups. At that time most of the inland was under the rule of the central power of Mali empire, but after its fall all provinces including Gabú, became independent kingdoms. However, these kingdoms could not survive because of the wars. Later on, the colonial powers had divided and shared the African Continent during the famous 1884-86 Berlin conference. Now, with its borders drawn, Guinea-Bissau was given to Portugal. However the portuguese encountered a very strong opposition from the local populations, both from the interior and from the coastal region. They were very much against the portuguese attempts of occupation and settlement. The conflicts lasted up til 1936, at which time the Portuguese did a massacre against the protesters at Bijagós Island of Canhabaque. Twenty years later, Amilcar Cabral and five others co-religionist, funded the African Party for Guinea-Bissau and Cap Vert Independence - P.A.I.G.C.. Due to the intransigency of Portugal, the P.A.I.G.C. had to start the guerilla warfare in 1963, aiming the total liberation of the country. In 1973, September 24th, the P.A.I.G.C. proclaimed unilaterally the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, but Portugal would only acknowledge the ligitimacy of this claim in 1974. Since then, this young state has been ruled by the P.A.I.G.C., until a military conflict in 1998 lead the country to the legislative and presidential elections one and an half year later.     Guinea-Bissau Position:   West Africa by the coast towards the Atlantic Sea between Senegal (N) and Guinea Conakry (S). Geograhpy:   Guinea Bissau consist of a mainland and a archipelago by the name of Bijagos consisting of some 40 islands and islets. Administratively Guinea Bissau is split up in 8 regions + the capital Bissau. Area:   36.125 km2 (1.500 km2, Bijagos archipelago). Main cities:   Bissau (capital), Bafatá, Gabú, Cacheu, Canchungo, Buba and Catió. Beaches:   Varela (N), Cassumba (S) and the beaches of the archipelago Bijagos. Rivers:   Cacheu, Mansoa, Geba, Rio Grande de Buba, and Cacine. Climate:   Tropical (humid) Air average temperature: 24 - 27 degrees Celcius Water average temperature: 23 degrees Celcius. Population:   1.234.555 (July 1999 estimate) people - 52% women and 48% men. City population: 31%. Rural population: 69%. Increase of population: 2,7%. Largest ethnic groups:   Brassa (Balanta) 27%, Fula 22%, Mandingo 12%, Mandjaco 11%, Pepel 10%. Main industry:   Agriculture, fishing, sylviculture and food industry. Products:   Species of grain, coconuts, peanuts, rice, palmoil, timber, cashewnuts and bauxite. Export products:   Cashew nuts, shrimps & fish, lumber, cotton, coconuts and peanuts. Currency:   Francs CFA.       Interesting sites to learn more about Guinea-Bissau: embassy.countrywatch.com/cw_country.asp?vCOUNTRY=071 www.countrywtach.com/files/071/cw_country.asp?vCOUNTRY=071 www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/G_Bissau.html mbendi.co.za/land/af/gb/p0005.htm www.bissau.com