• Guinea-Bissau is one of the smallest countries in Africa. Bordered by Senegal to the North and Guinea to the southeast, the country is located in western Africa and borders the Atlantic Ocean.

  On March 3, 2009, parliament speaker Raimundo Pereira was sworn in as interim president, and will be required to call for new elections in two months. Before his swearing in, there was a moment of silence in memory of the two fallen rivals, President Joao Bernardo Vieira and General Batiste Tagme na Waie, who were both assassinated on March 2, 2009.The Washington Post: Interim Leader Takes Over in Guinea-Bissau (March 4, 2009)

• 1. Capital: Bissau
  2. Government: Republic
  3. Population: 1,472,780 (July 2007 est.)
  4. Currency: CFA Franc (XOF)
  5. Exchange Rate: 440.80
  6. Official Language: Portuguese
  7. Formerly known as Portuguese Guinea
  8. Motto: "Unidade, Luta, Progresso" (Unity, Struggle, Progress)

• History and Politics

  After falling under colonial rule in the 17th century, it became independent from Portugal on September 10, 1974. As a country, Guinea-Bissau is divided up into eight regions, which are in turn divided up into thirty-seven sectors. Its government is a Republic and relies on a multi party system to govern.

• Assassinations

  On March 2, 2009, Guinea-Bissau's President Joao Bernardo Vieira was assassinated. It has been reported that the president's palace was the scene of looting after gunfire and rocket explosions were heard.CNN: President of Guinea-Bissau assassinated (March 1, 2009) Viera's death followed the death of General Tagme Na Waie who was killed during a bombing of the army's headquarters.Times Online: President Joao Bernardo Vieira of Guinea-Bissau assassinated... (March 1, 2009)

  A March 9, 2009 New York Times article reveals that the small African nation feels optimistic about the future; many believing the assassinations on March 2 will bring more stability to the country, which has been in the throes of becoming a narco-state after several years of encouraging extensive cocaine smuggling operations.The New York Times: 2 Slayings in West Africa May Signal a New Day (March 9, 2009)

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