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Sub Saharan Africa

Guinea-Bissau

 Flag of Guinea-Bissau

Last reviewed: 04 June 2009

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

In the 1990s, relations with neighbouring Senegal were strained due to incidents in the border area. Several times in the 1990s, Guinea-Bissau accused the Senegalese army of encroaching on Guinea-Bissau territory in their fight against Casamance separatists, whom the Senegalese accused Guinea-Bissau of supporting and arming. Relations have improved significantly since the death of General Mane, and the subsequent efforts by the Guinea-Bissau army to expel the Casamance separatists from the country. Guinea-Bissau and Senegal have also had a land and maritime border dispute, which was resolved in 1995 after being taken to the ICJ by Guinea-Bissau. Relations with other neighbours have generally been good. In 1997 Guinea-Bissau joined the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and thereby the Franc Zone, giving up its currency in favour of the West African Franc. ECOWAS brokered the Abuja peace agreement of November 1998 that paved the way for eventual elections in the following year.

On the wider international stage, Guinea-Bissau has enjoyed close relations with Portugal since independence, despite occasional disputes related to the presence of dissidents or opposition leaders in Lisbon. Guinea-Bissau looks to Portugal to support its case in the international donor community. Portugal and France are the only EU states with embassies in Bissau. In 1996 Guinea-Bissau was a founding member of the community of Portuguese speaking states (the CPLP) and recently hosted the CPLP Assembly. The CPLP has been active in trying to mediate during periods of instability in Guinea-Bissau.

The United Nations has worked to help the country achieve stability since 1999, via the United Nations Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) now headed by a Nigerian diplomat, Shola Omoregie. In October 2007, the UN Security Council referred Guinea Bissau to the UN Peace Building Commission. The PBC is helping Guinea Bissau with its electoral preparation. In April 2008, the first advisors arrived as part of an EU mission to help with security Sector Reform in the country.

African Union
ECOWAS

Guinea-Bissau's Relations with the UK

British interests in Guinea-Bissau are covered by the British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. The British Honorary Consul in Bissau is Mr Jan Van Maanen. Britain's Ambassador in Senegal is Mr Christopher Trott. The Guinea-Bissau Embassy in Paris is accredited to Britain.

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